Coats' Disease

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Coats’ disease, named after George Coats, a Scottish ophthalmologist, also may be referred to as exudative retinitis. It is a progressive abnormality of the capillaries in the retina and affects children and young adults, mostly males. It typically begins during the first ten years’ of life, progresses gradually and affects central vision, usually in only one eye.

Retinal capillaries play an important role in nourishing the retina and Coats’ disease causes retinal capillary dilation, malformation and leakage. There is also a threat of retinal detachment.

No cause yet has been established for Coats’ disease and no risk groups or risk factors identified. It is believed one is born with the disease but it is not hereditary.

The main symptom of the disease is the deterioration in either central or peripheral vision. Peripheral vision also is known as side vision. Initially, vision will be blurred and usually pronounced when one eye is closed. Flashes of light are common symptoms and persistent color patterns also may be perceived in the affected eye.

A significant early warning sign of Coats’ disease is yellow-eye in flash photography. Red-eye effect in photography – caused by the reflection off blood vessels in the back of a normal eye – is well known. An eye affected with Coats’ disease will glow yellow as light reflects off cholesterol deposits leaked onto the retina. Children with yellow-eye in photographs should be taken for immediate evaluation by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

How is Coats’ disease treated?

There are few treatment options for the disease in the early stages. The progression of the disease can be slowed through laser surgery but in specifically evaluated cases only.

The disease can stop progressing of its own accord and there are documented cases where the condition even has reversed itself. But if retinal detachment has occurred, loss of vision is permanent in most cases. If pain or other complications arise, removal of the eye may be an option.