A 28-year-old man presents with recurrent vitreous hemorrhage. Peripheral fundus examination shows segmental periphlebitis with venous occlusion and sea-fan neovascularization in both eyes. Systemic evaluation is otherwise normal. What is the most likely diagnosis?
- A Sickle cell retinopathy
- B Behcet disease
- C Eales disease ✓
- D Familial exudative vitreoretinopathy
Correct answer: C. Eales disease
Explanation
Eales disease is an idiopathic obliterative peripheral retinal vasculopathy classically affecting young adult males, characterized by perivenous sheathing, peripheral nonperfusion, neovascularization and repeated vitreous hemorrhage. It is notably common in India. Sickle cell retinopathy is excluded by a normal hemoglobin electrophoresis and lack of systemic findings, and Behcet disease would show panuveitis with hypopyon rather than isolated peripheral periphlebitis. Scatter photocoagulation to nonperfused retina is the mainstay once neovascularization develops.
Reference: Parsons' Diseases of the Eye, 23rd ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.