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Ilse's disease: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Eales' disease (juvenile angiopathy) is a heterogeneous disease that can be classified as either vascular or inflammatory (perivasculitis, vasculitis, periphlebitis). Characteristic signs are recurrent hemorrhages into the vitreous body and neovascularization of the retina at the periphery without any typical clinical signs. Neovascularization is usually noted at the border between the normal retina and the ischemic zone with poor blood supply. Men aged 15-45 years are most often affected.
Ophthalmoscopically: many retinal veins are dilated, tortuous and enveloped in exudate cuffs, with many newly formed vessels nearby. The cuffs extend along the veins to the arteriovenous crossing. Point and flame-shaped hemorrhages into the retina from capillary aneurysms are possible, as well as widespread preretinal hemorrhages.
[ Symptoms of Ilse's disease
Eales' disease usually persists for many years, gradually fading. Clinically, three subtypes of periphlebitis are distinguished: the exudative form with cuffs, retinal edema, preretinal exudate; the hemorrhagic form with multiple hemorrhages in the retina and vitreous body; the proliferative form with newly formed vessels in the retina and vascular growth into the vitreous body, cords and membranes in the vitreous body, secondary tractional retinal detachment.
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Treatment of Ilse's disease
Treatment of Ilse's disease is systemic and surgical, depending on the clinical manifestations of the disease. Corticosteroids are used systemically, but the positive effect of their use is unstable. Laser and photocoagulation are performed to reduce and prevent neovascularization in the vitreous body, traction (tension by fibrous strands) and retinal detachment. Vitrectomy is performed in the presence of massive hemorrhages in the vitreous body and vitreoretinal strands.
The prognosis for vision is poor. Complications include vitreous hemorrhage, cataracts, papillitis, secondary glaucoma, traction and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, rubeosis iridis.