The results of a prospective clinical and fluorescein angiographic study of 155 patients with central retinal vein obstruction (CRVO) were analyzed to identify risk factors contributing to the subsequent development of iris neovascularization (NVI) and neovascular glaucoma (NVG). Of 144 untreated eyes, 20% developed NVG. The eyes were classified as having either an ischemic or a hyperpermeable type of CRVO according to the extent of retinal capillary nonperfusion demonstrated by the initial fluorescein angiogram. The risk of developing NVG was found to be approximately 60% in those eyes with extensive retinal ischemia. None of the 22 eyes with an ischemic CRVO treated with panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) prior to the onset of NVI developed NVG.