What is Coats Disease?

Coats Disease is probably the least talked about eye disorder that can lead to blindness if not detected early. Coat’s disease, named after Dr. George Coats who penned down the disease in 1912, described it by a few distinguishable traits as follows: Retinal hemorrhages, Unilaterality, Occurrence in infantile or juvenile male patients, Exudates below the retinal vessels, Absence of systemic diseases, and slow progression to retinal detachment, cataract, atrophy, or glaucoma.

As of today, not much else has been added to this information, and very little research has been done since. Coats disease is not thought to be a genetic disorder, although it mostly affects young children and males up to adolescents. Most risk factors that have been known to cause other eye disorders and eventual blindness are unrelated in this instance, as the condition usually starts before the child reaches three and is not exposed to the usual harmful influences that puts people at risk for a blinding eye condition.

It is however, known that the condition almost always starts in one eye, and may lead that eye to lose vision partially or completely before may be moving to the second eye. Coats disease is not known to affect both eyes at once or both eyes at all, in which cases the number of patients reported are very rare.

The other problem with Coat’s disease, it literally “sneaks up” on young children, who are still unaware that there might be something wrong with their vision. Coats disease is treatable if caught early, and therefore parents need to be vigilant to ensure their child’s vision is not affected by Coats Disease.

The start of the eye disease presents little or no affect on vision. Generally, however, by the time a noticeable change has taken place, the condition would have progressed onto seriously affecting one’s vision. It can affect children in infancy, and children between the ages of six and nine are most at risk. This is what delays diagnosis and advanced treatment. The other most troubling effect of this eye disease is it is a painless condition, giving out no warning signs at all.

The good news is the disease is very rare, affecting only 0.09 individuals in every 100,000 people. Coats disease is easily noticeable during a regular eye exam done by an eye doctor Dubai. The doctor may notice a white or yellow blob in the region of the pupil or abnormal growth of blood vessels at the back of the eye. Cholesterol deposits may be seen on the retina when the pupil is dilated during an eye exam for children by your family eye specialist.

One very popular case that was recently reported on the media was the case of a three year old being diagnosed by the excessive reflection of the flash on the affected eye, which showed one eye to have an obstruction near the pupil. Close range pictures with good flashes can also help detect the onset of Coat’s disease.

Although the disease is rare, it would be advised to have your child checked specifically for coats disease from the stage of infancy. Regular eye exams at Ebsaar Eye Surgery and Vision Correction Solutions Clinic will not only prevent further complications in relation to Coats Disease, but will help in diagnosing any other vision affecting disease early on.