[Optic disc drusen or true papilledema?]

Abstract

Introduction: Bilateral optic disc drusen can mimic papilledema, raising the question of intracranial hypertension and sometimes prompting unnecessary or invasive procedures.

State of the art and perspectives: Optic disc drusen are benign calcified masses, often visible within the optic nerve head. However, their clinical diagnosis can be more difficult at earlier stages of life, when they are buried within the optic nerve. Visual field loss can occur in patients with longstanding optic disc drusen.

Conclusion: Ophthalmoscopy and B-scan ocular ultrasonography allow appropriate diagnosis of bilateral optic disc drusen mimicking papilledema. On rare occasions, optic disc drusen can be associated with ischemic complications, the other causes of drusen-related visual loss being exceptionally rare.