Surgical avulsion of the iris was performed in 11 eyes of 11 patients affected with diabetic retinopathy, rubeosis of the iris and neovascular glaucoma that had been unsuccessfully treated otherwise. Nine eyes had extensive iris neovascularization, complicated cataract and vitreous haemorrhage, whereas the other two eyes were aphakic and had previously undergone vitrectomy, lensectomy and extensive laser photocoagulation. Prior to surgical avulsion of the iris, all eyes received topical and entheric hypotensive therapy. The intraocular pressure (IOP) ranged from 24 to 52 mmHg. Iris avulsion lowered the IOP in 9 of the 11 eyes treated (IOP range, 6-19 mmHg).