Re: Drusen

Posted By hfhs md ke on February 21, 1999 at 11:43:16:

In Reply to: Drusen posted by Tim on February 21, 1999 at 02:10:32:






I have been identified as having drusen in my left eye. I am aware that macular degeneration is proceeded by the presence of drusen. Is the presence of drusen always a precurser to macular degeneration or can it be present without leading to macular degeneration. Can you please describe what drusen is?




tim-
it would be nice to know how old you are- also I assume you are talking about macular ( retinal ) drusen and not optic nerve head drusen, which are two entirely different things. since i do not know your age, i will divide my response into if you are less then 50, and if you are over 50.
first, however, let me tell you what drusen are.  macular drusen are best defined as localized deposits that are lodged between the retina and the layer underneath the retina called the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which has many important functions for the retina, including retinal degredation ( waste ) products. drusen can be thought of as backed up waste products that the rpe extrudes. they are the marker of age related macular degeneration (ARMD), the leading cause of vision loss in people over 60 in the U.S.  
over 50 group-  drusen are a sign of ARMD-  they alone may cause subtle to severe vision loss due to their effect on the retina in the area- certain types may also predispose a person to subretinal bleeding, which may lead to severe vision loss if not treated. now all that being said, most people with drusen do not have any significant visual loss, so if ARMD is defined as vision loss then not everyone with drusen has ARMD ( a simplistic approach )- also the number of drusen seen is not a predictor of vision- eg a few drusen may lead to vision loss, alot may not, depending on the patient.
under 50- drusen, if present, may indicate a familial inheritance- it would be nice to have your family examined, parents and siblings and children.  if they are familial, they also need to be followed and over many years may also rsult in vision loss- but if you are say 30, and have familial drusen then I would not say you have macular degeneration, but I would say you are at risk for it.
finally, we unfortunately do not have good treatments for drusen, or ARMD without bleeding. ( DRY ARMD ) my advice would be two things- be followed by an ophthalmologist closely, and either take a multivitamin containing zinc and anti oxidants, or consume a good amount of green leafy vegetables, like spinach.
key words: drusen, ARMD,macula, retina, anti oxidants
Disclaimer
This information is provided for general medical education purposes only. Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options pertaining to your specific medical condition