Surgical Management of Advanced Coats Disease in 32 Eyes: A 20-Year Study

This work studies outcomes of external subretinal fluid (SRF) drainage in management of eyes with advanced Coats disease.

Patients with advanced-stage Coats disease (≥stage 3B), who were younger than 12 years and underwent external SRF drainage from 1996 to 2016, were included in this retrospective study. Surgical intervention involved external drainage of SRF and cryotherapy. SRF drainage was performed by lamellar scleral dissection or by external needle drainage. Favorable anatomical outcome was defined as retinal reattachment with normal intraocular pressure (IOP). IOP greater than 24 mm Hg was considered raised. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to measure the association between preoperative or intraoperative factors and retinal status at final follow-up. Outcome measures evaluated included visual acuity, IOP, retinal status, globe status, and complications of surgery. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed for globe salvage without pain.

Thirty-two eyes of 32 patients were included in the study. Mean age at surgery was 3.8 ± 3 years. The mean duration of follow-up was 7 years (range, 6 months-15.7 years). Improvement in visual acuity was seen in 5 eyes. Retina was attached at final visit in 6 eyes. IOP in the range of 8 to 24 mm Hg was noted in 16 eyes. Favorable anatomical outcome was achieved in 3 (9%) eyes. Globe salvage was achieved in 84% of eyes. Complications included intraoperative vitreous hemorrhage (n = 1) and postoperative inflammation (n = 1). Kaplan-Meier ocular survival rate without pain at 10 years was 76%.

SRF drainage and cryotherapy in eyes with advanced Coats disease favorably alter the natural history of the disease and prevent end-stage complications. Visual outcomes remain poor.