Optic drusen

[Sher13]

Hi. It's that time of year again when I get severe anxiety about my annual eye testing and exam. I have optic disc drusen and the first time my dr saw this 5 yrs ago he went into a panic thinking I may have a brain tumor. That's enough to scare anyone, never mind someone with severe medical anxiety like myself. I went through a bunch if testing including MRI of my brain and all pointed to drusen. However, every year when these tests roll around I am crippled with fear. I went yesterday for vision field testing and pics of my optic nerves. Now I have to wait 2 weeks to go back to dr to discuss results and have dilation exam. The technician doing my tests said she didn't see any major changes in my vision test and that the optic nerve swelling is still there but if anything looks a little less than last time. Should I feel somewhat relieved by this? I have had my phone attached to me anxiously awaiting a phone call that they found something suggesting a tumor again:( help!!!

[Sher13]

Hi. Thanks for your response. I guess I forgot to mention due to my frantic anxiety right now that I am on watch for Glaucoma due to high eye pressures and the fact that drusen can make glaucoma harder to diagnose? That's why I get these yearly exams. I guess my main question is would the tests show true papilledema if I did have a tumor or would the drusen mask the symptoms? I wish I could get it through my head that my eye exams and testing are not because they are looking for a brain tumor...ugh! anxiety is terrible:( Thanks!

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

I do not do yearly testing for optic nerve drusen. I get a baseline photo or OCT and only repeat if there is a change on clinical examination.  In my opinion an exam is sufficient.  There is no treatment for VF changes due to optic nerve drusen.

Dr. O.