Chronic exudative ischemic superior temporal-branch retinal-vein obstruction simulating Coat's disease

A 62-year-old white man presenting with retinal telangiectasia, subretinal exudates, and a circumscribed nonrhegmatogenous retinal detachment secondary to an ischemic superotemporal-branch retinal-vein obstruction is described. Sectorial-scatter argon laser photocoagulation resulted in complete flattening of the retina and a return of visual acuity to 6/12 (20/40). Although lipid exudates and retinal detachment secondary to retinal venous occlusion have previously been reported, our case had the additional finding of marked retinal telangiectasia suggesting adult Coat's disease. This case indicates that a retinal venous occlusion can produce a capillary response simulating the characteristic features of Coat's disease.