Types of Drusen

Drusen are small white or yellow deposits found in a layer of the retina called Bruchs membrane. Made up of lipids, a type of fatty protein, drusen are the most common early warning sign of dry age-related macular degeneration, an eye disease that often causes vision loss in those 65 and older. There are two types of drusen: a dry, hard form and a wet, soft form.

Hard Drusen

• Dry, hard drusen are the less harmful form. Hard drusen are small, round and have distinct, well-defined borders. They are common with age, often found in those 40 and older, and may not cause vision problems for a long time, if at all. Although they may develop into the soft form, hard drusen are not necessarily an indication of the development of macular degeneration.

Soft Drusen

• Wet, soft drusen are the more harmful form. Soft drusen are pale yellow, larger than the hard form, vary in size and shape and their edges are less distinct. Soft drusen can disrupt the layers of the retina and may cause retinal pigment epithelium detachment. Although they are more often associated with vision loss and are considered to be an early indicator of macular degeneration, this type of drusen does not always develop into an eye disease.

Prevention

• Although there are no known causes or proven ways to prevent drusen, you can take several precautionary measures to decrease your chances of developing or increasing drusen in your eyes. Schedule regular eye exams to monitor your eye health. Protect your eyes from UV-A and UV-B rays by wearing sunglasses that block 99 percent to 100 percent of UV rays whenever you are outside. Do not smoke, exercise regularly and get proper nutrition by eating a well balanced diet full of fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grains. Talk to your doctor about enhancing your diet with vitamin and mineral supplements.

Treatment

• Although there are no scientifically proven ways to treat drusen, low vision rehabilitation can help those with substantial vision loss to obtain a higher quality of life. Researchers are experimenting with laser surgery to eliminate drusen, but early studies show that although laser therapy may help reduce the amount of drusen, it is not able to restore vision and may cause other problems. More research is needed to discover a cure for drusen.