question about drusen in youth

[doublel82213]

I have a question about drusen, I am 24 years old and my eye doctor found a bleeding blood vessel in my eye when I was 9 and it was fixed with lazer surgery, leaving a blind spot in my left eye.  I have drusen in my eyes.  I was wondering how much of a greater risk this put me for macular degeneration and if there is anything i can do it help stop its progression.  And I guess I would really like to know where it came from and just some general information about drusen in young people, all the information I can find is related to older people.  

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

There are two types of drusen (yellow spots) of the retina and one kind of drusen of the optic nerve. Hard drusen are small discreet and probably do not increase the risk of ARMD. Soft drusen are large, irregular, confluent and do represent the early from of ARMD and increase the risk of neovascularization.

We don't know why the drusen form. Use the search feature and read about all the things you can do to try and prevent getting ARMD

JCH MD

[Lynny111]

Hi, I am 44 and alsw was recently told I have drusen.  From what I read and what my doctor told me you need to take zinc suppliments and beta carotene.  He gave me a phone number of 1-866-819-7195. The product is called ARMD Eye support Beta.  I spoke to one of my friends who's grandmother does have Macular degeneration and is 83 she said it has not progressed at all since she started taking this.  I am going to try this also. He said to exercise and eat right.  I also wish I knew more.