Retinoblastoma is sometimes misdiagnosed as Coats' Disease

It has been reported that some patients have been misdiagnosed with Coats' Disease, when in fact the correct diagnosis in their specific case was Retinoblastoma.

Retinoblastoma is cancer of the retina structure at the back of the eye and commonly affects children. This is the part of your eye that senses light and sends this information to your brain to see images. Symptoms of retinoblastoma include a white colour in the centre of the eye when light is shone in the eye, eyes that look in different directions, poor vision, eye redness and swelling. This condition can be inherited and only needs one parent to be a carrier. It can be misdiagnosed as conditions such as coat’s disease, and retinal dysplasia.

Always consult your doctor or health professional, and do not self diagnose.

Symptoms can include:

Eyes appearing to be looking in different directions, white colour in pupil when light is shone in eye, poor vision, eye redness, eye swelling

Symptoms are a guideline only and may apply to either the diagnosis or the reported misdiagnosis, or both. Consult your specialist for further information.

Further reference: