Pearls and pitfalls in diagnosis and management of coats disease.

Objective: To review current literature on Coats disease and provide a structured framework for differentiating challenging clinical features in Coats disease patients.

Methods: We critically reappraise historical and current literature and present clinical methods for developing a thorough differential diagnosis and management strategy for Coats disease.

Results: Coats disease is a sporadic, usually unilateral condition typically occurring in young males. When untreated, this disorder can lead to total exudative retinal detachment and secondary glaucoma.

Conclusions: Anti-VEGF agents are currently a treatment option in combination with ablative therapy of telangiectatic vessels. Anti-VEGF agents appear particularly useful for patients with extensive areas of exudative retinal detachment, and are an effective treatment option for total retinal detachment.