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

[angie757]

My almost 8 year old daughter was just diagnosed today with Drusen at Duke Eye Center here in NC. My main source of worry at this point is wondering if she will go blind? From what I have read online so far, that sounds like a worst case scenario. I work for Duke University Medical Center and I know they have an excellent reputation. However, do we need to see any other specialist? The MD today was a pediatric opthamologist. She wants to see her back in 2-3 months for follow up. Will she need yearly exams, or perhaps more frequently?  I am really trying to remain calm and just find out as much information as I can to help her. Any information would be much appreciated.

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

OND do not cause pain. Re postings above note poor vision due to OND is rare (we did not say it never occurs only in the worse 0.1%) In a very large practice I only have about 2 patients with poor vision due to OND. None are blind.  Macular neovasculariation can occur in a small # of people with OND and require intraocular injections of lucentis or avastin.

OND in young people are usually NOT calcified, that occurs after the condition has been present for many years. Even my older patients with OND for 50 years do not have pain. you would need to discuss the cause of your pain with the neuro-ophthalmologist.

JCH MD

[leslie2150]

I was diagnosed with optic nerve drusen today. I have been experiencing a lot of pain behind my eyes, but my neuro-ophthalmologist said that the pain is unrelated to my diagnosis. Is there any way that optic nerve drusen can cause any pain or discomfort at all? If I really do have calcium deposits behind my eyes, can't that be causing me pain?

[cad320]

I was diagnosed with optic disc drusen about a year and a half ago.

Today, I am left with a huge blind spot in my left eye (since it's enlarged due to the drusen)

My right eye had bleeding occur from the drusen, and left scar tissue that leaves me half blind in my right eye.

I guess I'm one of those really bad luck people :/

[rromine]

I have it too , I'm 46 last check 20/200 and they say it dont happen, BS I'M LIVING WITH IT!

[EveAlexandra_]

I was diagnosed at 13 after originally being told that I actually had a brain tumour. Pretty scary to handle at that age, they were telling me I had to have urgent brain surgery! Im pretty lucky they decided to do a few more scans and then decided it optic drusen instead. Im now 15, and im slowly going blind.