AN INTERESTING CASE OF COATS DISEASE - RESPONSE TO RETINAL LASER PHOTOCOAGULATION

A 9 year old male child presented with defective vision in the right eye which was noticed 1 year back. Fundus examination of the right eye revealed yellowish sub-retinal exudates surrounding the macula, a shallow exudative retinal detachment with foveal involvement and retinal haemorrhages in the supero-temporal quadrant. The FFA showed telangiectatic vessels with the characteristic light bulb aneurysms in the temporal retina. A diagnosis of Stage 3A2 Coats disease was made and the patient underwent immediate laser photocoagulation in the temporal retina for the abnormal telangiectatic vessels. At 1 month follow up, the clinical outcome was good, with a marked improvement in visual acuity. This case is presented to emphasise the significance of early diagnosis and prompt and appropriate treatment for restoring useful vision in this condition.