Ultra-Widefield Imaging for the Management of Pediatric Retinal Diseases

Purpose: To describe the utility of using ultra-widefield digital fundus photography and ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography (UWFA) in the pediatric patient population to evaluate peripheral retinal pathology and to manage Coats' disease and familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR). Methods: Retrospective review of pediatric retinal patients with FEVR or Coats' disease who underwent ultra-widefield fundus photography and UWFA. Results: Eight patients were included in this case series. Five patients had the clinical diagnosis of FEVR, and two eyes of two patients with FEVR received UWFA-guided laser photocoagulation. Three patients were diagnosed as having Coats' disease and received UWFA-guided laser photocoagulation. Conclusions: Ultra-widefield fundus photography and UWFA can be used successfully as an outpatient procedure in the pediatric patient population without the necessity of examination under anesthesia and can aid the physician in the documentation and evaluation of peripheral retinal pathology. UWFA can also assist in directing laser photocoagulation in the treatment of pediatric retinal diseases.