{"id":3800,"date":"2026-10-30T14:52:43","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T13:52:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.first-sight.ch\/?post_type=glossary&#038;p=3800"},"modified":"2026-10-30T14:57:36","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T13:57:36","slug":"optic-disc-drusen","status":"publish","type":"glossary","link":"https:\/\/www.first-sight.ch\/en\/glossar\/optic-disc-drusen\/","title":{"rendered":"Optic Disc Drusen"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Optic disc drusen are small, calcifying deposits of protein and calcium in the optic nerve head (optic disc). They occur in about 1 to 2 % of the population, usually affect both eyes and are frequently discovered as an incidental finding during a routine examination. In most cases optic disc drusen are harmless and require no treatment.<\/p>\n<h2>How they develop<\/h2>\n<p>Optic disc drusen form slowly over years, probably from metabolic products of the optic nerve fibres, which are deposited at the optic nerve head and calcify. The exact cause has not been fully established. Since drusen occur more often within families, an inherited predisposition is assumed.<\/p>\n<h2>Symptoms<\/h2>\n<p>Most of those affected notice nothing: optic disc drusen generally cause no complaints. In some cases, however, the following changes can occur:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Slight visual field defects:<\/strong> mainly in the outer part of the field of vision. These are often so subtle that they do not stand out in everyday life.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Rarely, deterioration of vision<\/strong> through complications such as abnormal new blood vessel growth (choroidal neovascularisation) or temporary circulatory disturbances<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Why are drusen clinically relevant?<\/h2>\n<p>The main issue is that optic disc drusen can make the optic nerve head appear enlarged and swollen. This picture resembles papilloedema, a genuine swelling of the optic nerve, which can indicate raised intracranial pressure. Telling the two apart correctly is therefore crucial in order to avoid unnecessary and stressful investigations.<\/p><div class=\"card-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"card base-card with-color\" style=\"--card-padding: clamp(2rem,1.74038rem + 1.15385cqw,2.75rem)\">\n<div class=\"card-inner\">\n<h3>Drusen or Swelling of the Optic Nerve?<\/h3>\n<p>Whether an unusual optic nerve head is caused by drusen or by real swelling can be distinguished in a targeted eye examination. Dr. Stefan Langenegger assesses the findings, plans the follow-up checks and, on request, also examines parents, siblings or children, just a few steps from Zurich main station.<\/p>\n<div class=\"buttons\">\n<div class=\"button-group\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.first-sight.ch\/en\/contact\/\" class=\"button style-default with-arrow\">Book an appointment<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><h2>Diagnosis<\/h2>\n<p>Superficial drusen are often directly visible on ophthalmoscopy as yellowish, glistening, irregular elevations on the disc. Deeper (buried) drusen require additional investigations:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Ultrasound of the eye:<\/strong> shows the calcifications as characteristic bright reflections<\/li>\n<li><strong>OCT (optical coherence tomography):<\/strong> images the drusen and the surrounding nerve fibre layer precisely<\/li>\n<li><strong>Autofluorescence:<\/strong> drusen light up characteristically in this examination<\/li>\n<li><strong>CT (in rare cases):<\/strong> to demonstrate the calcifications<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Examining the family<\/h2>\n<p>Since optic disc drusen can be inherited, it is advisable, once the diagnosis is made, to have family members (parents, siblings, children) examined by an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.first-sight.ch\/en\/angebot\/eye-examination-ophthalmologist\/\">ophthalmologist<\/a> as well.<\/p>\n<h2>Treatment<\/h2>\n<p>There is no treatment for optic disc drusen themselves, and in the great majority of cases none is needed. If rare complications such as choroidal neovascularisation occur, these can be treated with laser or injections of medication.<\/p>\n<h2>Monitoring<\/h2>\n<p>Regular ophthalmological check-ups are recommended in order to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Detect changes in the visual field early<\/li>\n<li>Monitor the nerve fibre layer using OCT<\/li>\n<li>Identify rare complications in good time<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Most patients with optic disc drusen retain good vision and need no more than annual check-ups. Despite the unusual name, the prognosis is generally very favourable.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"card cta-card\"\n\t\t\n\t>\n\t\t<div class=\"card-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"cta-card-content\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"cta-card-content-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" src=\"https:\/\/www.first-sight.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/stefan-langenegger-avatar-100x100.jpg\" class=\"attachment-cta size-cta\" alt=\"Dr. Stefan Langenegger, Augenarzt Z\u00fcrich\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.first-sight.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/stefan-langenegger-avatar-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.first-sight.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/stefan-langenegger-avatar-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.first-sight.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/stefan-langenegger-avatar-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.first-sight.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/stefan-langenegger-avatar-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.first-sight.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/stefan-langenegger-avatar-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.first-sight.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/stefan-langenegger-avatar.jpg 808w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"cta-card-content-text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"h6 cta-card-title\">Dr. Stefan Langenegger<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"cta-card-subtitle\">\n\t\t\t\t\tTreating Ophthalmologist\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"tel:0444420405\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"cta-card-phone\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t044 442 04 05\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Optic disc drusen are small, calcifying deposits of protein and calcium in the optic nerve head (optic disc). They occur in about 1 to 2 % of the population, usually affect both eyes and are frequently discovered as an incidental finding during a routine examination. In most cases optic disc drusen are harmless and require [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_wpce_doc":"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