Optic disc drusen in tilted disc.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neuro-ophthalmology

Background:

• Optic disc drusen are abnormal calcified deposits within the optic nerve head.
• Congenital anomalies of the optic nerve head, such as tilted discs, are less understood in relation to optic disc drusen.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if tilted discs are a risk factor for the development of optic disc drusen.
• To explore a potential cause-effect relationship between tilted discs and optic disc drusen.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 47 patients diagnosed with optic disc drusen.
• Confirmation of optic disc drusen using fluorescein angiography and B-scan ultrasonography.
• Examination of fundus photographs and fluorescein angiographies for the presence of tilted discs.

Main Results:

• Two out of 47 patients (approximately 4.25%) with optic disc drusen also had tilted discs.
• The observed rate of tilted discs in patients with optic disc drusen was approximately double the expected rate.
• Both patients with concomitant tilted discs and optic disc drusen experienced parapapillary hemorrhage.

Conclusions:

• A potential cause-effect relationship exists between tilted discs and optic disc drusen.
• Axonal crowding within a smaller scleral canal, characteristic of tilted discs, may compress nerve fibers.
• This compression can lead to chronic optic neuropathy and subsequent optic disc drusen formation.