My ophthalmologist told me I have a number of drusen in my retina. What are drusen, and how do they relate to macular degeneration?
Drusen are yellow deposits in the layer under the retina. They may be of various sizes, shapes, and consistencies. These characteristics help to deter-mine a patient’s risk for vision loss and/or progression to wet macular degeneration. Small, hard drusen are of least concern and, if the only findings, may not even represent age-related macular degeneration. Medium-sized drusen are typically associated with age-related macular degeneration.
Drusen may be defined as “hard,” in which they are well defined and have an almost crystalline appearance, or “soft,” in which they are somewhat more amorphous and coalesce to form larger areas. Finally, large drusen are of greatest risk for vision loss or progression to wet macular degeneration. Drusen represent breakdown products in the level underneath the retina.
The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), the layer underneath the retina, is responsible for the degradation of regular breakdown products in the normal functioning of the retina. Over time, the ability of the retinal pigment epithelium to perform these activities declines, and drusen and pigmentary changes are the end result.