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Show Diagnostic Uncertainty Due to Optic Disc Drusen Michael S. Vaphiades, DO FIG. 1. A. Bilateral optic disc edema with optic disc drusen and peripapillary hemorrhages. B. Automated visual fields demonstrating peripheral nerve fiber bundle defects in each eye. C. Ocular ultrasonography showing prominent optic disc drusen bilaterally. Vaphiades: J Neuro-Ophthalmol 2012; 32: 145-147 145 Photo Essay Section Editor: Timothy J. McCulley, MD Copyright © North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited. Abstract: An 80-year-old woman developed swollen optic nerves with hemorrhages associated with optic disc drusen. Hemorrhagic complications of optic disc drusen are discussed. Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology 2012;32:145-147 doi: 10.1097/WNO.0b013e3182452f6a © 2012 by North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society An 80-year-old woman complained of headaches, but she denied other symptoms of giant cell arteritis. She had a history of chronic anxiety for which she was taking sertraline. Visual acuity was 20/25 bilaterally, and color vision and pupillary reactions were normal. Eye move-ments were full, and funduscopy revealed that both optic discs contained drusen and were edematous with peripa-pillary hemorrhages (Fig. 1A). Automated visual fields demonstrated peripheral nerve fiber bundle defects in each eye (Fig. 1B). B-scan ultrasound showed prominent optic nerve drusen bilaterally (Fig. 1C). Fluorescein angiography showed the presence of optic disc drusen and dye leakage in the late phases of the angiogram, more of the right disc than of the left disc. With good visual acuity and intact color vision, increased intracranial pressure was suspected. MRI of the brain showed only white matter ischemic changes consistent with the patient's age. Complete blood count, metabolic panel including blood glucose, and Westergren sedimentation rate were normal. Lumbar puncture showed an opening pressure of 17 cm H20 with normal cerebrospinal fluid analysis. The patient was prescribed gabapentin with relief of her headaches. Examination 7 months later showed resolved optic disc edema and peripapillary hemorrhage OD and nearly resolved peripa-pillary hemorrhage OS (Fig. 2). Optic disc drusen are a frequent cause of optic disc elevation, raising the possibility of optic disc edema. Papillary and peripapillary hemorrhages with or without optic disc edema may occur with optic disc drusen further confounding the clinical picture. Retinal hem-orrhages associated with optic disc drusen are rare, and bilateral simultaneous hemorrhages are rarer still (1-3). Hemorrhage associated with optic disc drusen have been described in the following settings: 1) small nerve fiber hemorrhages localized to the optic disc, 2) optic nerve head hemorrhages extending into the vitreous, and 3) subretinal peripapillary hemorrhages with or without associated choroidal neovascularization (2-4). Optic disc edema associated with optic disc drusen may occur in 1) nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) (5,6), 2) raised intracranial pressure (7), and 3) association with hemorrhagic events (1). In my patient, the results of the visual field testing were nondiagnostic and were consistent with optic disc drusen, NAION, and chronic papilledema. The presence of optic disc drusen almost always obviates the need for further patient testing. Such was not the case in my patient since chronic papilledema was a diagnostic consideration and necessitated neurologic evaluation. Departments of Ophthalmology, Neurology and Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama. Supported in part by an unrestricted grant from the Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc, New York, NY. The author reports no conflicts of interest. Address correspondence to: Michael S. Vaphiades, DO, UAB Department of Ophthalmology, Suite 601, 700 South 18th Street, Birmingham, AL 35233; E-mail: vaph@uab.edu FIG. 2. Seven months later, fundus appearance showing less optic disc edema and decrease in the size of the peripapillary hemorrhages. 146 Vaphiades: J Neuro-Ophthalmol 2012; 32: 145-147 Photo Essay Copyright © North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited. REFERENCES 1. Brodrick JD. Drusen of the disc and retinal haemorrhages. Br J Ophthalmol. 1973;57:299-306. 2. Romero J, Sowka J, Shechtman D. Hemorrhagic complications of optic disc drusen and available treatment options. Optometry. 2008;79:496-500. 3. Auw-Haedrich C, Staubach F, Witschel H. Optic disk drusen. Surv Ophthalmol. 2002;47:515-532. 4. Sanders TE, Gay AJ, Newman M. Hemorrhagic complications of drusen of the optic disk. Am J Ophthalmol. 1971;71:204-217. 5. Newman WD, Dorrell ED. Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy associated with disc drusen. J Neuroophthalmol. 1996;16:7-8. 6. Hayreh SS. Ischemic optic neuropathy. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2009;28:34-62. 7. Granger RH, Bonnelame T, Daubenton J, Dreyer M, McCartney P. Optic nerve head drusen and idiopathic intracranial hypertension in a 14-year-old girl. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2009;46: 238-240. Vaphiades: J Neuro-Ophthalmol 2012; 32: 145-147 147 Photo Essay Copyright © North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited. [KBDdcadrusendiscswithcomplications] |
