Eales' disease: diagnosis and management

Abstract

Eales' disease is an idiopathic inflammatory venous occlusive disease. It primarily affects young adults and is often bilateral. It is characterized by three overlapping stages of venous inflammation (vasculitis), occlusion, and retinal neovascularization. Diagnosis is mostly clinical and requires exclusion of other systemic or ocular conditions that could present with similar retinal features. Recurrent vitreous haemorrhage is the hall mark of Eales' disease. Treatment is usually corticosteroids in the inflammation stage and photocoagulation in the proliferative stage of the disease. Visual prognosis is good if treated early in the course of the disease.