Table of Contents
What causes optic disc drusen?
Optic disc drusen are caused by an abnormal deposition of a protein-like material in the optic nerve. The cause of this material is unknown. In some individuals, the deposition of this material can be inherited, while in others it occurs without a family history.
Is optic disc drusen a disease?
Disease Entity Disc drusen are composed of small proteinaceous material that become calcified with advancing age. These deposits can be considered small tumors that develop within the optic nerve head, and may lead to an elevated disc (and therefore this condition is sometimes referred to as pseudopapilledema).
How is optic disc drusen diagnosed?
Obvious drusen are usually present on the surface of the optic nerve. Some optic nerve drusen are “buried.” Buried drusen can be more difficult to observe and diagnosis may require the use of imaging (ultrasound or CT scan), photography (fluorescein angiography/autoflourescence), or optical coherence tomography (OCT).
Do drusen always mean macular degeneration?
Drusen are typically associated with age-related macular degeneration in people over the age of 60; however they can arise as hereditary degenerations in young people. Drusen are a risk factor for macular degeneration but having drusen does NOT mean you have macular degeneration.
Can optic disc drusen cause headaches?
Conclusions: Our study suggests that a majority of patients with optic disc drusen have non-specific symptoms such as visual obscurations, visual field defects and headaches despite maintaining good visual acuity.
What is the treatment for drusen?
Treatment for Drusen of the Retina There is currently no treatment for drusen. However, people with drusen need to be monitored regularly and should take precautions to minimize their risk of developing macular degeneration by: Not smoking.
Can drusen cause headaches?
Conclusions: Our study suggests that a majority of patients with optic disc drusen have non-specific symptoms such as visual obscurations, visual field defects and headaches despite maintaining good visual acuity. Most of the optic discs appeared abnormal, but visible drusen were observed in less than half.
Does drusen mean macular degeneration?
Drusen are the defining feature of macular degeneration. These small yellow or white spots on the retina can be detected by an ophthalmologist during a dilated eye exam or with retinal photography. People with more than a few small drusen are said to have early age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Can optic nerve drusen cause headaches?
Can optic nerve drusen cause glaucoma?
Introduction: Optic nerve head drusen are congenital calcium deposits located in the prelaminar section of the optic nerve head. Their association with visual field defects has been classically described, but the diagnosis of glaucoma is not easy in these cases of altered optic nerve head anatomy.
Can drusen make you blind?
Drusen do not cause total blindness, but can result in central vision loss. Central vision allows us to focus on details straight ahead. People with more soft and larger drusen, are at higher risk of experiencing this type of vision loss in the future than people with fewer and smaller drusen.
What are optic disc drusen?
Optic disc drusen (ODD) are autofluorescent, calcified deposits found in the optic nerve head, and typically occur in small, crowded optic discs.1Their prevalence ranges from 3.4 to 24 per 1,000 according to clinical studies and 1-2.4% in histological studies.2,3,4The prevalence of ODD is higher in women and involvement is usually bilateral.5,6
Is autofluorescence useful in identifying optic disc drusen in children?
Therefore, the usefulness of autofluorescence in identifying optic disc drusen in children, who are more likely to harbor non-calcified buried drusen, has not been conclusively determined. Open in a separate window Open in a separate window Open in a separate window Figure 4
What does a dilated fundus look like on an optic disc?
If the optic disc drusen are superficial, this can aid in diagnosis during the dilated fundus exam. The optic nerve usually has a “lumpy-bumpy” appearance. Drusen seen as round, white/yellow refractile bodies on the surface of the nerve or buried beneath it
How is buried drusen detected on fundus fluorescein angiography?
On fundus fluorescein angiography, drusen appear as smooth-bordered hyperfluorescence at late phase (A), whereas optic disc edema shows early diffuse leakage with irregular margins (B) Computed tomography (CT) can also be utilized to detect buried drusen.