Optic Nerve Drusen

[lizzy1985]

My eye doctor just told me that  I have Optic Nerve Drusen. Are you born with this or its it develope over time?
Lizzy

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

You be sure your "eye doctor" is an Eye MD ophthalmologist. If he/she is there is no reason to question this treatment. OND make DX of glaucoma very difficult, in a patient with high to borderline high, or a family hx of glaucoma or very thin corneas I often do the same thing.

If you are still not okay then ask your eye MD to refer you for a second opinion on the drops.

If you see a non-MD, non-physician, limited scope of practice optometrist then I suggest seeing an Eye MD ophthalmologist. You can ask your family MD to refer you or if you live in USA find an Eye MD near you at www.geteyesmart.org

JHCH MD

[buzzard3131]

My eye doctor recommended daily drops to reduce pressure in eye as to slow the possibility of complicatons if the optic nerve is less flexible due to OND....is this really necessary.
JJI

[buzzard3131]

My eye doctor recommended daily drops to reduce pressure in eye as to slow the possibility of complicatons if the optic nerve is less flexible due to OND....is this really necessary.
JJI

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

There are three types of drusen in the eye: optic nerve drusen and retinal hard drusen and retina soft drusen.  Hard and Soft drusen can be in the macula or elsewhere in the retina.  Spells of blurred vision are not typical of any of these. Hard drusen are often incidental, benign findings unrelated to age related macular degeneration.

There is no treatment for optic nerve drusen and they usually do NOT create vision problems.

JCH MD

[lis75262]

My 12 year old daughter was just diagnosed with drusen. Her eye dr. referred us to a neuro opthamologist. We can not get an apt. until mid July.

The eye dr. discovered the drusen on a OCT scan. My daughter's report states retinal drusen. She has aslo been experiencing some quick flashes of blurred vision in her rt eye.

Can you give me any insight of prognosis ? I am going crazy just waiting for her to be seen to have an ultrasound and furhter testing.

Is the retinal drusen the most common form and also is the retinal drosen not as serious as macular drosen. (I am a bit relieved as I have read the previous comments.)
\Any input will be appreciated. I think I am concerned because of her brief (few second) spells of the blurry vison. Is his typical with the retinal drusen?

Thank you

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

Assuming you're talking about optic nerve drusen and not macular drusen then start at the beginning and read this discussion thread.

You should feel comfortable with your ophthalmologist, if not UNC has a great program in ophthalmology.

JCH MD