Coats' disease is a rare, congenital, nonhereditary eye disorder, which may cause partial or full blindness to his patients. It is characterized by abnormal development of blood vessels behind the retina. Specifically, the blood leaks from the abnormal blood vessels in the back of the eye, leaving cholesterol deposits, which destroy the retina.
The progress of the disease is slow and at advanced stages there is a high risk of retinal detachment. Glaucoma and cataracts may also develop secondary to Coats' disease.
It usually occurs in the first decade of life and is unilateral (affects only one eye). Predominantly affects young males according to studies.