[Coats' disease: early detection and early treatment (author's transl)].

With regard to visual prognosis Coats disease can grossly be divided in 3 different stages: If the disease is confined to the periphery of the fundus, complete recovery can be achieved by appropriate treatment. If there is already a severe macular involvement central visual acuity hardly improves, but blindness can be prevented. In case of a widespread, exsudative retinal detachment, the prognosis is unfavourable. Early diagnosis and early treatment of Coats' disease are therefore very important.