Visual field defects and retinal nerve fiber layer defects in eyes with buried optic nerve drusen.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the visual field with the use of automated perimetry and to evaluate the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) with optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients with buried optic nerve drusen (OND).


METHODS
Observational case control study.


METHODS
Eyes with buried OND were defined as eyes with ultrasound-proved drusen that were not visible with indirect slit-lamp biomicroscopy. All eyes underwent automated perimetry. Some eyes underwent OCT to evaluate the RNFL.


RESULTS
Fifty-eight eyes of 41 patients with buried OND were evaluated. Three eyes (5%) had inferior arcuate scotomas. The other 55 eyes did not have visual field defects. Twenty-one of the eyes without visual field defects underwent RNFL analysis with OCT. All 21 eyes had normal average RNFL thickness. Some eyes had focal RNFL defects, but it is not clear whether these defects were clinically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Visual field defects are uncommon in eyes with buried OND. Eyes with buried OND may have focal RNFL defects but have normal average RNFL thickness. In patients with buried OND and a visual field defect, consideration should be given to searching for other causes of the defect, especially if the defect is substantial.
Katz
Bradley J
BJ
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, the John A. Moran Eye Center, and the Department of Neurology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA. bradley.katz@hsc.utah.edu
Pomeranz
Howard D
HD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology*; D015594:Optic Disk Drusen / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D012607:Scotoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields