Insight into large colloid drusen: A decade-long follow-up

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Retinal Imaging
• Medical Science

Background:

• Large colloid drusen (LCD) are a subtype of drusen associated with early-onset retinal diseases.
• Understanding the long-term progression of LCD is crucial for predicting visual outcomes and managing potential complications.
• Multimodal imaging provides a comprehensive approach to evaluating retinal structural and functional changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the 10-year evolution of large colloid drusen (LCD) using multimodal imaging.
• To assess the incidence of atrophy and macular neovascularization (MNV) in eyes with LCD over a decade.
• To determine the visual acuity outcomes and imaging characteristics of LCD over a 10-year period.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of medical records of patients with bilateral LCD diagnosed at least 10 years prior.
• Baseline and 10-year follow-up multimodal imaging including color fundus photography (CF), fundus autofluorescence (FAF), spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and swept-source OCT angiography (SS-OCTA).
• Assessment of FAF patterns, presence of MNV and/or atrophy, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA).

Main Results:

• Twelve eyes from 6 patients were analyzed; mean age at diagnosis was 47.8 years.
• Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was maintained at 20/20 in 6 eyes at 10-year follow-up.
• LCDs resorbed in 50% of eyes; outer retinal atrophy occurred in 2 eyes, while 8.3% developed nonexudative MNV. No fibrosis or active neovascularization was observed.

Conclusions:

• Large colloid drusen (LCD) frequently undergo resorption over a 10-year period.
• Outer retinal atrophy and neovascular complications in LCD are limited, suggesting a relatively favorable prognosis compared to other early-onset drusen types.
• Multimodal imaging is essential for monitoring LCD progression and associated pathologies over the long term.