Optic disc drusen: a systematic review : Up-to-date and future perspective

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neuro-ophthalmology

Background:

• Optic disc drusen (ODD) are acellular deposits in the optic nerve head, with unclear pathogenesis.
• ODD are associated with visual field defects and increased risk of anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.
• Buried ODD can be misdiagnosed as papilledema, leading to unnecessary investigations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of optic disc drusen.
• Focus on pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic methods, and treatment.
• Highlight recent advancements and future perspectives.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of current literature.
• Focus on optical coherence tomography (OCT) advancements.
• Analysis of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities.

Main Results:

• OCT imaging enables earlier and more accurate diagnosis of ODD.
• Understanding of ODD pathophysiology is evolving.
• Clinical manifestations and management strategies are detailed.

Conclusions:

• ODD are not entirely benign and require careful diagnosis and monitoring.
• Advancements in OCT have improved diagnostic certainty.
• Further research into ODD pathophysiology and long-term outcomes is warranted.