Purpose
To analyze the clinical profile, treatment and visual outcome of patients with Eales' disease in a tertiary care centre of South India.
Methods
A retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed clinically and confirmed angiographically as Eales' disease between 1985 and 1995 with a minimum follow up of 10 years were included in the study. Eight hundred and ninety eight eyes of 500 patients were analyzed.
Results
500 patients (898 eyes) were included in the study with a mean follow up of 15.8 years. 95.2% were males with male to female ratio of 20:1. Commonest age group affected was 20-40 years (71%). 81% had bilateral involvement. The commonest presenting complaint was defective vision(40%). 53% patients had vision better than 6/12 on presentation. 73% eyes had stable visual outcome at end of the follow up. Causes for poor visual outcomes were end stage disease with optic atrophy (29%) and secondary glaucoma (11%). Factors associated with poor visual outcome were delayed presentation (p=0.038), poor vision on presentation (p=0.000), central variant of Eales' (0.027), macular involvement (0.000), presence of fibro vascular proliferation, vitreous hemorrhage and retinal detachment (p= 0.000).
Conclusions
Conclusion: Eales' disease is common retinal vasculitis which when detected early has a favorable clinical prognosis. Patients require a frequent follow up. Non surgical (systemic steroids and laser) along with surgical management when instituted early in the clinical course helps in stabilization of the disease process.
Keywords: 700 retinal neovascularization •
557 inflammation