Lifting the White Walker’s curse–Management of Coats’ disease

BACKGROUND: Coats’ disease, described by George Coats in the early 1900s, is an idiopathic unilateral retinal vascular abnormality with exudation occurring in young males. It is characterized by retinal telangiectasia with intraretinal or subretinal exudation. Coats’ disease is mostly diagnosed in the first to the second decade of life, with a common presentation of leukocoria. Younger patients have a more severe presentation and are associated with poor visual prognosis. Management of Coats’ disease varies from observation, cryotherapy with anti-VEGFs (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor), and surgery to enucleation. The mode of treatment depends on the age of presentation, the severity of the disease, and the stage of the disease. Through this video, we describe the clinical features, pathology, and surgical management of a 2-year-old child with grade 3B of Coats’ disease. PURPOSE: To demonstrate successful surgical management of grade 3B of Coats’ disease in a 2-year-old boy. SYNOPSIS: Coats’ disease mostly presents with a diagnostic dilemma due to its varied presentation. Early detection and treatment are the keys to salvaging the eye as well as the vision, hence, avoiding dreadful complications such as neovascular glaucoma or phthisis bulbi. We demonstrate successful surgical management of a child who presented with grade 3B of Coats’ disease. HIGHLIGHTS: Through this video, we aim to describe the clinical features, pathology, and surgical management of a 2-year-old child with grade 3B of Coats’ disease. Combination of external drainage with vitrectomy, challenges faced, and the importance of visual rehabilitation postoperatively. VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/0obpVTOkKKs