Pseudopapilloedema with and without verified optic disc drusen. A clinical analysis I

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Clinical Optometry

Background:

• Optic disc drusen are often asymptomatic but can mimic papilledema.
• Clinical differentiation between true papilledema and pseudopapilledema is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze characteristic findings in pseudopapilledema with and without verified optic disc drusen.
• To document the incidence of visual disturbances and associated ocular findings in patients with optic disc drusen.

Main Methods:

• Clinical analysis of 200 patients, including eyes with optic disc drusen, pseudopapilledema without drusen, and normal fellow eyes.
• Documentation of visual acuity, fundus appearance, presence of hemorrhages, and pigmentary changes.

Main Results:

• Optic disc drusen caused diminished visual acuity in 4 eyes.
• Papillary or peripapillary hemorrhages occurred in 6.1% of eyes; pigment epithelial derangement in 29.7%.
• Subjective symptoms were rare; 15% showed disc changes over time. Migraine was a common co-occurring disorder.

Conclusions:

• Pseudopapilledema with optic disc drusen presents with specific findings, including hemorrhages and pigmentary changes.
• While often asymptomatic, optic disc drusen can lead to visual acuity reduction and require monitoring for disc changes.