A retrospective notes review at two tertiary care centres was completed between 2009 and 2019. The inclusion criteria for the study was a diagnosis of nonarteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION) in at least one eye, aged between 18 and 50-years-old on attendance and had either optic disc drusen diagnosed or excluded. Thirty-seven patients were included in the study, of which 45 eyes were diagnosed with NAION. The imaging modality used was dependent on the time point of clinic attendance; these included enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT), fundus autofluorescence, ultrasound and CT orbits. The prevalence of optic disc drusen in NAION affected eyes is reported as 53.3%. Over 95% had optic disc drusen bilaterally despite uniocular NAION. This study reports a higher prevalence of optic disc drusen than previously reported in a young population with NAION. It is still unknown whether an older population with NAION also have an increased prevalence of optic disc drusen; future research is required. If these findings are confirmed by larger studies, it may be that this population may benefit from screening using EDI-OCT for optic disc drusen.
How common is optic disc drusen in young patients with NAION?
Reviewed by Lauren Hepworth
Prevalence of optic disc drusen in young patients with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy: a 10-year retrospective study.
CONTRIBUTOR
Lauren R Hepworth
University of Liverpool; Honorary Stroke Specialist Clinical Orthoptist, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust; St Helen’s and Knowsley NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
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