NERVE FIBER LAYER SCHISIS IN COATS DISEASE

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Retinal Diseases
• Pediatric Ophthalmology

Background:

• Coats disease is a rare condition characterized by abnormal blood vessel development in the retina.
• Complications of Coats disease can include retinal detachment and vision loss.
• Nerve fiber layer (NFL) schisis is an uncommon finding in ophthalmology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report two cases of pediatric patients diagnosed with Coats disease.
• To describe the occurrence of nerve fiber layer (NFL) schisis in these patients.
• To highlight NFL schisis as a potential, albeit rare, manifestation of Coats disease.

Main Methods:

• Observational case series design.
• Utilized optical coherence tomography (OCT) for diagnosis.
• Documented treatment with panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) and indirect laser therapy.

Main Results:

• Two male pediatric patients (ages 2 and 14) with Coats disease were identified with NFL schisis via OCT.
• Both patients received PRP and indirect laser treatment.
• The 14-year-old experienced recurrent disease with visual acuity of 20/80+1.
• The 2-year-old is under follow-up after multiple laser treatments.

Conclusions:

• Nerve fiber layer (NFL) schisis represents a rare clinical manifestation in pediatric Coats disease.
• Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial for managing complications.
• Further research may elucidate the specific mechanisms linking Coats disease and NFL schisis.