Corneal neovascularization: a review of the molecular biology and current therapies

Corneal neovascularization (CNV) is a complication of inflammatory and hypoxic ocular pathologies or immune response to ocular infections. CNV is a manifestation of an imbalance between pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic signaling molecules. Despite a magnitude of evidence suggesting angiogenic signaling molecules play a pivotal role in modulating CNV, there are insufficient current pharmacologic treatment options for CNV. Thus, targeting signaling molecules appears to be one promising treatment. Multiple drugs have been used off-label and have shown success in treating CNV, most notably the anti-VEGF medications. In addition, novel drugs are being developed and studied for CNV. This article will describe various molecular mechanisms that induce angiogenesis in the cornea, in addition to potential chemotherapies for CNV that inhibit these molecular mechanisms. This review is pertinent but not all-inclusive. The authors will give examples of publications that have reported novel discoveries related to potential future anti-CNV therapies.