Optic Nerve Head Drusen

Optic Nerve Head Drusen

Optic nerve head drusen represent refractile, often calcified nodules located within optic nerve head.

The prevalence ranges from 0.34 % in clinical settings to 2 % in autopsy studies. Optic nerve head drusen are often bilateral (75–86 %), but can be asymmetric.

The pathophysiology of optic nerve head drusen is unclear, most theories suggesting impaired ganglion cell axonal transport, probably related to a small scleral canal and mechanical obstruction, metabolic abnormalities associated with impaired transport, which may result in intra-axonal mitochondrial damage over time with subsequent calcification of the extruded.

Most patients with optic nerve head drusen do not experience symptoms; however, few patients (8.6 %) may have transient visual obscuration. Visual fields defects remain either stable or worsen slowly.

The optic discs of patients with optic nerve head drusen appears elevated with indistinct or irregular margins and with an anomalous vascular...