Drusen

[spedlaw]

I'm a 43 year old male. I recently learned from my optometrist that I have two or three "pinpoint" spots of drusen (presumably hard) fairly close together on the outer edge of my left macula. The last time I was there I had one, but she didn't mention it then. I've been nearsighted and needed my first pair of bifocals this time. Otherwise, she said my eyes are healthy. She said the drusen could be an early sign of macular degeneration. She suggested I start taking the occular vitamins and told me to come back in a year.

My mother is 66. She was diagnosed with macular degeneration in one eye about 3 years ago but has no apparent visual problem from it right now.

I fit a number of risk categories. I'm obese, have high blood pressure (not always controlled well), don't eat right, and have a fairly sedentary lifestyle.

I'm fairly worried. I've seen various definitions of macular degeneration online. Do I have it right now? I've started working on weight loss, better blood pressure control, eating the correct vegetables/fruits, exercising, and taking vitamin supplements. Is it too late for most of these interventions? Is there any way to control or eliminate drusen development?

[Forum-OD-MP]

'Do I have it right now?'

i have no idea.  although i doubt your optometrist would have used the word 'drusen' if she meant 'macular degeneration'.  those are not the same thing.  drusen are usually spots that the doctor sees inside, but that the patient has no real symptoms for.  MD is when the patient has obvious vision loss.

'Is it too late for most of these interventions?'

absolutely not too late.  the more you do, the better off you'll be.

'is there any way to control or eliminate drusen development?'

eat right, lose weight, exercise, take ocuvite or a related mulitvitamin product, stop smoking if you're a smoker, wear UV protection as much as possible, etc etc

[aimee37]

Thanks, Dr. Prince. Are drusen fairly common? Are they typically seen in a 43 year old's eyes? Could three "pinpoint" drusen on the edge of the macula lead to macular degeneration? I wish I lived close to your practice!

-Rod in Wisconsin

[aimee37]

"Thanks, Dr. Prince. Are drusen fairly common? Are they typically seen in a 43 year old's eyes? Could three "pinpoint" drusen on the edge of the macula lead to macular degeneration? I wish I lived close to your practice!"

macular drusen are fairly common.  and although not a GREAT sign, also not considered to be necessarily all that concerning, especially if vision is not affected.

yes, it is possible that this is the early stages of MD.  but thats certainly not a given.  the fact that you have visible drusen probably increases your risk/probability of eventually developing MD, but again certainly not a given.  drusen in and of themselves are not MD and do not necessarily lead to MD.