Optic Nerve Disk Drusen

I am 44 and have had Optic Nerve Disk Drusen for several years. No doctor has ever told me it is a pre-cursor to Macular Degeneration. I just had an exam this past weekend with a new doctor. He didn't want to say too much about it until he dialates my eyes. However, I did horrible on the peripheral test. I was horrified about it.

Some websites state there is no relation between Optic Nerve Drusen and MD. Others say there is. Can you tell me if they are related. My mother of 82 has MD wet in one and dry in the other.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

OND is NOT related to ARMD.  In rare cases OND has been associated with "wet" macular degeneration (NOT ARMD).

In your mothers case I would say they are NOT related. It is academic as the treatment of wet mac degen is the same regardless of cause.

JCH MD