[Long-term results of the treatment of Coats disease]

Fluorescein angiographies and clinical data of 265 patients (292 eyes) with primary retinal teleangiectasis were retrospectively evaluated. If patients showed the typical pathology of the fundus and were less than or equal to 20 years, they were summarized under the diagnosis Coats' disease (125 eyes). These patients revealed significantly more severe vascular changes and exudates compared with older patients with retinal teleangiectasis. The treated and untreated course was compared in the group of patients with Coats' disease. Coagulation treatment and in some cases additional retina detachment surgery resulted in a significantly better course of the disease in contrast to the untreated group. The degree of the pathology of the fundus was the main factor for successful therapy. If the vascular changes regressed, the situation was stabilized for the following years.