What causes peripheral retinal drusen?
Drusen are small deposits of fat, proteins and minerals, including calcium and phosphate deposits that form in a layer underneath the retina. Their incidence increases with age and they are associated with macular degeneration.
What is drusen stage 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).
Is optic disc drusen serious?
Optic nerve drusen commonly cause mild side vision loss that can be detected by machines in the doctors office called “visual field” analyzers. The side vision loss is usually not appreciated by patients and not a functional concern. Rarely the drusen can cause severe, noticable side vision loss.
Is there a link between drusen and macular degeneration?
Drusen are made up of lipids, a fatty protein. Drusen likely do not cause age-related macular degeneration (AMD) . But having drusen increases a person’s risk of developing AMD.
What kind of drusen are under the retina?
23, 2019. Drusen are yellow deposits under the retina. Drusen are made up of lipids, a fatty protein. Drusen likely do not cause age-related macular degeneration (AMD). But having drusen increases a person’s risk of developing AMD. There are different kinds of drusen.
Are there soft drusen in the optic nerve?
This soft type of drusen increases the risk for AMD. Drusen of the optic nerve Drusen can also occur in the optic nerve. These drusen are made up of protein and calcium salts and generally appear in both eyes.
Do you need to see an ophthalmologist for hard drusen?
Hard drusen don’t require treatment. Your ophthalmologist may want to monitor them on a regular basis to make sure they don’t turn into soft drusen. There’s no treatment available for soft drusen, but if you have soft drusen, it’s possible you also have macular degeneration. Your doctor will work with you to find the most appropriate AMD treatment.