The primary objective of this study was to develop a simple experimental model of angiogenesis by photodynamic thrombosis of the retinal veins in Sprague-Dawley rats. After a tail vein injection of rose bengal (40 mg/kg), all major retinal veins adjacent to the optic nerve head were photocoagulated with an argon green laser. The eyes were examined regularly for the following eight weeks. A grading system was devised using fluorescein angiograms and ADPase staining to describe the progression of the new vessels. Nine out of ten eyes showed development of the preretinal new vessels by day 14. Seven weeks after laser coagulation, 2 of 5 eyes developed localized tractional retinal detachment. Regression of the neovascularization was not noted in any of the animals during the follow-up period. The authors were able to establish an experimental model for preretinal neovascularization by vein occlusion. This model may be applied in study of the pathogenesis and treatment of retinal neovascularization.