THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF LASER PHOTOCOAGULATION AND VITRECTOMY IN EALES\'DISEASE

Eales' disease is an idiopathic obliterative retinal vasculopathy that is treated with laser photocoagulation, and/or vitrectomy. In order to determine visual outcomes and regression of retinal neovascularization following scattered peripheral retinal photocoagulation, and/or vitrectomy in cases with Eales' disease, we did a retrospective study of the records of these patients treated in Labbafinejad Medical Center from 1988 to 1998. We studied the existing data of 67 eyes of 54 patients with complicated Eales' disease who had undergone laser photocoagulation and/or vitrectomy based on their clinical presentations. Our main outcome measure was the visual acuity changes of the eyes following treatment. In 43 eyes, scattered peripheral retinal photocoagulation alone led to complete regression of neovascularization and a VA of 20/30 was obtained in 60.4%. Vitrectomy was finally required in 24 eyes and of these, 37.5% gained a VA of 20/ 30. Although scattered peripheral retinal photocoagulation should be the first line of treatment in Eales' disease, it may not always produce regression of retinal neovascularization. In such cases vitrectomy may further enhance therapeutic success.