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Drusen
- 2. Drusen There are two main types of Drusen in the eye. -Macular -Optic Nerve They are two very different conditions. Macular Drusen can be very early symptom of macular degeneration.
- 3. They are simply small yellow or white deposits of lipid (a fatty compound)and calcium that build up in the Bruch's membrane of the eye. The Bruch's membrane is a layer of tissue underneath the retina. The other two important layers are the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and the the choroid layer, filled with blood vessels. The job of these three layers of tissue is to bring oxygen and nutrients to the rod and cone cells and remove built up waste products.
- 4. When this transportation system gets clogged up and when there is any interference is this system - the rod and cone cells don't get the nourishment they need and can't get rid of the built up waste products. The cone and rod cells then begin to degenerate or die.
- 5. Types of Drusen There are two main types - "hard" and "soft.“
- 6. Hard Drusen This type of deposit is the less harmful form and becomes more common as we age. They are characterized by: They are: very common with age and are very often seen in those 40 and older not an indication of the development of macular degeneration may develop into the soft kind made up of lipids and calcium
- 7. Soft Drusen This type is considered to be an early indicator of macular degeneration and that the process of degeneration of the macula has started. However, there are some people with this type that do not develop macular degeneration.
- 8. Cont… The soft form are characterized by: pale yellow ill-defined borders larger than the hard form vary in size and shape. Soft Deposits: Are more often associated with loss of vision May cause the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) to separate from the other retinal layers.
- 9. Drusen and AMD Several small drusen or a few medium-sized drusen is a sign of early AMD and many medium-sized drusen or one or more large drusen indicates intermediate AMD. Advanced AMD is noted by several medium size to large size drusen. The more drusen you have the greater chance you have of developing wet macular degeneration - the more severe kind of AMD. "Large numbers of drusen or large confluent drusen are also associated with a significantly increased risk of developing choroidal neovascularization, characteristic of the exudative (wet) form of AMD."
- 10. Size of Drusen The size of the drusen is an important prognostic factor for this retinal condition as well. Those with larger drusen are more apt to experience leaky blood vessels, or wet macular degeneration which causes more vision loss than dry macular degeneration.
- 11. Disease Progression The detection of macular drusen can also identify those who are at risk for developing AMD. "Drusen within the macula are a significant risk factor for the development of AMD."
- 12. Healthy Retina Wet AMD Drusen
- 13. References Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science October 2003 vol. 44 no. 10 4481- 4488 Internet
- 14. Thank You