Optic nerve head drusen

Optic disc drusen are congenital and developmental anomalies of the optic nerve head seen commonly in clinical practice, often as an incidental ophthalmologic finding during routine exams. Optic disc drusen are a form of calcific degeneration in some of the axons of the optic nerve. Visual acuity is often not affected but the visual fields of these patients can be abnormal and deteriorate over time. Optic disc drusen are familial and are not uncommon. They are thought to be the result of pathology at the level of the optic nerve head itself. The diagnosis can be made with clinical findings combined with B scan ultrasound and computed tomography. In addition, newer modalities using optic nerve head tomography are proving to be very useful. Since children as well as adults are affected, it is important to consider optic nerve head drusen in the differential diagnosis of papilledema or optic nerve swelling.