Structural Damage, Visual Field Loss, and Quality of Life in Optic Disc Drusen: A Case-Control Study with Integrated...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neuro-ophthalmology
• Quality of Life Research

Background:

• Optic disc drusen (ODD) are an underdiagnosed cause of optic neuropathy.
• The impact of ODD-related structural and functional vision damage on quality of life (QoL) remains poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare systemic risk factors, ocular structure-function, and QoL in adults with ODD versus matched controls.
• To identify determinants of impaired vision-related QoL in patients with ODD.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 60 adults with confirmed ODD and 60 matched controls.
• Data collected included clinical history, imaging (OCT), visual acuity (BCVA), RNFL thickness, visual field testing (perimetry), and QoL questionnaires (NEI VFQ-25, EQ-5D-5L).

Main Results:

• ODD patients had higher rates of hypertension and migraine.
• ODD was associated with worse BCVA, thinner RNFL, more depressed visual fields, and frequent visual field defects.
• Reduced vision-specific and generic QoL scores were observed in the ODD group compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• ODD is associated with significant visual field loss and clinically meaningful reductions in both vision-related and general QoL.
• Worse visual acuity, visual field deficits, and systemic factors like hypertension and migraine contribute to the diminished QoL in ODD patients.