[Retinal angiomatosis. Long-term follow-up]

Meyer-Schwickerath reported his first results with light coagulation in 1959. This report on the results of treatment in this disease is based on more than 34 years experience at the university eye hospital in Essen. Important prognostic factors are the number of retinal hemangiomas and secondary retinal lesions, such as exudative retinal detachment, lipid deposits, vitreous hemorrhages, preretinal membranes and traction retinal detachment.

Treatment was performed in 156 patients, with 220 involved eyes. The median follow-up was 8.9 years and the average age before treatment, 27.5 years.

A positive family history was found in 36.5% and extraocular hemangiomas in 24% of all cases. There were 64 patients with bilateral hemangiomas. In 64.5% of cases the tumor was destroyed without further recurrences. Xenon light coagulation was the only treatment applied in 70%. The other patients received combined procedures with light coagulation, cryocoagulation, Ru 106 plaque and proton beam. Salvage of 90% of all treated eyes was achieved.

Treatment at an early stage of the disease, before any secondary retinal damage has developed, seems to be crucial for satisfactory results. Light coagulation is extremely effective at this stage. However, the treatment options for advanced cases have also become better recently.