Clinical Management of Coats Disease: A Case Study

Christopher R Drowley, BOrth&OphthSc
Justin O’Day, FRANZCO AM
Victoria Parade Eye Consultants, Melbourne, Australia

Coats disease, is a rare unilateral retinal vascular disease of unknown aetiology though there may be a genetic predisposition to the disorder. If left untreated, severe and permanent vision loss can occur due to total exudative retinal detachment. Early intervention and close monitoring remains the most effective way to prevent potential vision loss and the progression to a blind and painful eye. This report describes the case of a 15 year-old healthy male who presented with a one-month history of unilateral blurred central vision. Fundus examination revealed a peripheral retinal vascular lesion which resulted in lipid deposits in the macular region. The patient was treated with argon laser panretinal photocoagulation and monitored over an 18- month period. He demonstrated a slow though significant resolution of the maculopathy which correlated with an improvement in visual acuity. This case highlights that early presentation followed with an appropriate management regime can result in a successful visual outcome.