title: Unsuccessful surgical excision of optic nerve drusen.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To report the case of failed surgical excision of optic nerve drusen (OND).
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report. A 53-year-old woman presented with bilateral OND leading to progressive field defects and LE light perception and RE 20/25 vision. A vitrectomy was performed on the legally-blind left eye to test the resectability of OND.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The removal of superficial OND failed because the singular-appearing superficial OND presented as one large mass with multiple excrescences on its surface. Retinal vessels passed through it, which made an excision impossible.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OND cannot always be removed surgically, due to their variable consistency and hardness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Goettingen, 37099, Goettingen, Germany. mpfriem@yahoo.de
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pfriem
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hoerauf
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015594:Optic Disk Drusen / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*