A 29-year-old patient suffers from a condition called Coats’ disease. This disease has caused vision problems, particularly noticing “floaters” (small dark spots that seem to float in the visual field) due to bleeding inside the eye.
After consulting a specialist, he was diagnosed with Coats’ disease. To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor performed a test called fluorescein angiography, which allows visualization of the retinal blood vessels. Subsequently, the patient received Argon laser treatment to try to improve his condition.
Now the patient has come to us for a follow-up fluorescein angiography. This test showed signs of the previous laser treatment, but it also indicated that the treatment needs to be completed. In particular, the following were observed:
Coats’ Disease (Exudative Retinitis)
Coats’ disease is an idiopathic ocular condition characterized by retinal telangiectasia, aneurysms, and exudation, usually unilateral and predominantly in males.
The pathogenesis is associated with somatic mutations and abnormalities in the Wnt signaling pathway during retinal angiogenesis.
The main symptoms of Coats’ disease include decreased visual acuity (43%), strabismus (23%), leukocoria or xanthocoria (20%), pain (3%), heterochromia (1%), and nystagmus (1%).
Visual acuity can range from 20/20 to 20/50 in 12% of cases, 20/60 to 20/100 in 11%, 20/200 to counting fingers in 18%, and hand movements to no light perception in 58%. The main causes of poor vision include subfoveal fluid or lipids, subfoveal fibrosis, macular edema, epiretinal membrane, and optic atrophy.
Diagnosis is based on clinical examinations, fluorescein angiography, retinography, optical coherence tomography, and ultrasound.
Treatment varies depending on the stage of the disease and may include laser photocoagulation, cryotherapy, surgery, and intravitreal therapy with corticosteroids and anti-VEGF.
In advanced stages, the visual prognosis is worse, with potential progression to neovascular glaucoma and phthisis bulbi.
Interprofessional management is crucial to improve outcomes in patients with Coats’ disease.
| Important Points and Description | |
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| Description: Coats’ disease is an idiopathic ocular condition characterized by retinal telangiectasia, aneurysms, and exudation, usually unilateral and predominantly in males. | |
| Pathogenesis: Associated with somatic mutations and abnormalities in the Wnt signaling pathway during retinal angiogenesis. | |
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Main Symptoms:
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Visual Acuity:
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Causes of Poor Vision:
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Diagnosis:
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| Treatment: It varies depending on the stage of the disease and may include laser photocoagulation, cryotherapy, surgery, and intravitreal therapy with corticosteroids and anti-VEGF. | |
| Prognosis: In advanced stages, the visual prognosis is worse, with potential progression to neovascular glaucoma and bulbar phthisis. | |
| Management: Interprofessional management is essential to improve outcomes in patients with Coats disease. |
