Coats’ disease: a clinical case

     Purpose: To report a clinical case of Coats’ disease.

     Methods: The authors present a clinical case of a 6 years old boy, that was referred to ophthalmological observation under suspicion of low vision of the left eye, after having been submitted to school vision screening tests. Results: Clinical observation and imaging methods (Fluorescein Angiography, Ultrasound, Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance), strongly suggested the diagnosis of Coats’ disease, within a moderate stage of evolution. The eye was submitted to laser therapy with partial reabsorption of the exudates and of the serous retinal detachment, and the disappearance of part of the vascular malformations.

     Conclusion: Coats’ disease is characterized by congenital retinal telangiectasis, subretinal exudation and progression into exudative retinal detachment. It usually presents in late childhood, occurs predominantly in males and is unilateral and sporadic in over 90% of cases. Clinical presentation may include: unilateral visual loss, leukocoria, strabismus and glaucoma. Differential diagnosis of Coats’ disease represents one of the great clinical challenges in ophthalmology. Coats’ disease must be differentiated from other entities particularly Retinoblastoma, as both can present with the same triad of retinal vascular anomalies, exudates or subretinal mass, and serous retinal detachment. Treatment of the abnormal vessels with photocoagulation or cryotherapy may halt progression of the disease.