Eales' disease in Inuit: report of four cases.

PURPOSE: To report four cases of Eales' disease in Inuit from Greenland diagnosed within a 6.5-year period. There are no previous reports on Eales' disease among Greenlanders. METHODS: Four younger Inuit, three males and one female, were diagnosed with Eales' disease based on fundus changes and exclusion of possible differential diagnoses. Several studies point to a possible relation between Eales' disease and tuberculosis (TB); examination of possible exposure to TB was part of the clinical investigation. RESULTS: Retinal changes made panretinal laser photocoagulation necessary in all cases. Four eyes in three patients were vitrectomized. Three patients received oral corticosteroid treatment. The final visual outcome was relatively good, with a visual acuity below 6/60 (3/36) in only one vitrectomized eye. All patients had been exposed to TB. CONCLUSION: Eales' disease seems to be rather common in the small population of Inuit (56,000) in Greenland. Attention is required to ensure diagnosis and appropriate treatment, including laser photocoagulation, leading to a reasonably good prognosis.