Is optic nerve 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.
Can optic nerve drusen go away?
It’s important to have annual eye exams even if your vision seems normal. There’s no treatment available for drusen and they sometimes disappear on their own, but if an eye doctor notices drusen under your retina during an eye exam, they’ll likely want to monitor your eyes regularly for any changes.
How many people have Pseudopapilledema?
Frequency. This condition affects 2-5% of the population. It is clinically apparent in only about 0.35% of individuals.
How do you detect optic disc drusen?
Superficial drusen of the optic nerve head are usually easily identified on ophthalmoscopy by the characteristic glowing yellow light they reflect. However, deeply situated buried drusen of the optic nerve head may be difficult to differentiate from true disc edema by ophthalmoscopic appearance alone.
How common is optic nerve drusen?
HOW COMMON ARE OPTIC NERVE DRUSEN? Optic nerve drusen are estimated to occur in about 1-2% of the population. Many cases go undiagnosed because most patients with drusen experience no visual symptoms.
Does optic nerve drusen cause headaches?
Conclusions: Our study suggests that a majority of patients with optic disc drusen have non-specific symptoms such as visual obscurations, visual field defects and headaches despite maintaining good visual acuity. Most of the optic discs appeared abnormal, but visible drusen were observed in less than half.
Can optic nerve drusen cause headaches?
Is Pseudopapilledema serious?
The prognosis of ODD in pseudopapilledema is very good. Individuals with drusen develop visual field defects with age: prevalences ranging from 11% in a pediatric population to 100% in an older population. [29] The visual field defects are usually mild, peripheral, and very slowly progressive.
Can optic nerve drusen cause glaucoma?
Complicating the determination of what caused the damage, many changes seen in glaucomatous eyes can also be observed in nerves with optic drusen. Occasionally, neovascularization or hemorrhages may appear in the optic disc and extend into the peripapillary region, just as they may in glaucoma.
What causes drusen in the eye?
Drusen is a German word that means “rock” or “geode.” They are like tiny pebbles of debris under the retina. The cause of the drusen deposits is related to a type of “garbage” disposal problem. Retinal cells dump unwanted material, and immune cells normally clean up most of it.
What causes optic disc drusen?
Optic disc drusen are caused by an abnormal deposition of a protein-like material in the optic nerve. The cause of this material is unknown. In some individuals, the deposition of this material can be inherited, while in others it occurs without a family history.
What can be done about optic neuritis?
Corticosteroids given through a vein (IV) or taken by mouth (oral) may speed up recovery. However, the final vision is no better with steroids than without. Oral steroids may actually increase the chance of recurrence. Further tests may be needed to find the cause of the neuritis. The condition causing the problem can then be treated.
What are symptoms of optic nerve problems?
Pain. Most people who develop optic neuritis have eye pain that’s worsened by eye movement.
Can optometrist diagnose optic neuritis?
An eye doctor, either an ophthalmologist or optometrist, can diagnose optic neuritis. They can perform tests to check color vision, how eyes respond to light, and how well the eye can see detail, such as letters in an eye chart.