Fluorescein Angiography in Eales' Disease

Abstract

The cause of retinal vasculature periphlebitis is not known, but probably constitutes a local manifestation of a systemic or general­ ized disease; inflammatory, vascular, endo­ crine and hematologie disorders have been suggested as factors in its pathogenicity. Initially, vascular periphlebitis is charac­ terized by a slight localized peripheral edema of the retina which, at first, may involve only the small vascular branches of the pe­ riphery of the retina, but later spreads to in­ volvement of the larger veins. The next stage of the disease is characterized by new vessel formation and hemorrhage, mainly as the result of thrombosis and rupture of the affected retinal veins. These new vessels' are at first thin and capillary-like. Later, they increase to form bundles and plexuses of various shape under the posterior surface of the vitreous cavity. When these penetrate into the vitreous body, the result is retinitis proliferans, the final stage of the disease. In this stage, retinal detachment may occur sec­ ondary to the traction which is exercized by these pathologic elements.