Successful resolution of coats disease by photodynamic therapy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Coats disease is a retinal disease characterized by exudative retinal detachment due to abnormal retinal blood vessels. Coats disease is generally treated using laser photocoagulation and cryotherapy to ablate the abnormal retinal blood vessels. However, if abnormal blood vessels are present near the posterior pole of the eye and there is a severe exudative change there, it is difficult to perform these standard treatments. We describe a case of Coats disease with severe exudative retinal change and retinal vascular abnormality near the posterior pole for which we performed photodynamic therapy and successfully suppressed the disease and improved vision. CASE PRESENTATION: A 15-year-old Japanese boy presented to hospital with a chief complaint of decreased vision in his right eye. At the initial examination, corrected visual acuity of the right eye was 20/100. On the right fundus, exudative retinal detachment with subretinal haemorrhage was observed from the upper intermediate periphery to the posterior pole. Abnormal telangiectatic vessels and microaneurysms were found at the nasal peripheral retina. From these findings, we diagnosed the case as Coats disease. We conducted photodynamic therapy for the right eye. At 10 months after treatment, both the subretinal haemorrhage and the exudative retinal detachment had disappeared completely. Further, the retinal structure of the macula had recovered, and right vision had improved to 20/20. CONCLUSION: Photodynamic therapy may be an effective and safe treatment for Coats disease in cases that present with abnormal retinal vessels close to the posterior pole of the eye.

MACULAR PIGMENT DISTRIBUTION RESPONSES TO HIGH-DOSE ZEAXANTHIN SUPPLEMENTATION IN PATIENTS WITH MACULAR TELANGIECTASIA TYPE 2.

PURPOSE: To analyze macular pigment (MP) amount and distribution in patients with macular telangiectasia Type 2 receiving oral zeaxanthin supplementation in a randomized, open-label, interventional trial. METHODS: Eight macular telangiectasia Type 2 patients were randomized to 10 mg or 20 mg of zeaxanthin per day. At each visit, best-corrected visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, fundus biomicroscopy, color fundus photography, autofluorescence imaging, optical coherence tomography, and serum carotenoid levels were tested. Patients were assessed at baseline and after 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of zeaxanthin supplementation. Concentration of MP was analyzed and calculated from autofluorescence imaging obtained at 488-nm excitation wavelength. Serum carotenoid levels were obtained using high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The majority of patients had definite increases in the intensity of hypofluorescent ring of MP, but none of them deposited MP centrally at the fovea. Although some patients noted subjective improvements in vision, no objective improvements could be documented, and there were no changes in foveal optical coherence tomographic features. Yellowish, hypofluorescent crystals appeared in one patient's macular region with no change in visual acuity. These inner retinal crystals disappeared several months after discontinuing her 20-mg zeaxanthin supplement. CONCLUSION: Based on the current study, zeaxanthin supplementation does not result in any visual benefit in patients with macular telangiectasia Type 2 and does not reestablish a normal peaked distribution of MP in the fovea. One patient developed a novel, reversible, crystalline maculopathy in response to zeaxanthin supplementation that was reminiscent of canthaxanthin crystalline maculopathy.

Treatment of Macular Telangiectasia Type 2 With Carotenoid Supplements Containing Meso-Zeaxanthin: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To assess the outcomes of patients with macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel 2) in response to lutein (L), meso-zeaxanthin (M), and zeaxanthin (Z) supplements (LMZ3). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirteen patients diagnosed with MacTel 2 were started on lutein 10 mg, meso-zeaxanthin 10 mg, and zeaxanthin 2 mg and were followed-up for a mean period of 15.7 months ± 4.85 months. RESULTS: Visual acuity improved in three patients (13%), and there was a reduction in the percentage of patients who had worsening vision (25% to 4%; P < .05). Optical coherence tomography changes showed a reduction in the number of cavitations and the largest diameter of the cavitation after the LMZ3 supplements were started. The largest diameter of photoreceptor disruption showed mild improvement in the first 6 months after LMZ3 supplements were started. CONCLUSION: LMZ3 supplements may stabilize vision and improve the cavitations in patients with MacTel 2. Larger randomized, controlled studies are required to verify these pilot results. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2016;47:528-535.].