title: Imaging drusens using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose was to evaluate pathological changes of photoreceptor layer and retinal pigment epithelium in eyes with drusens using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine eyes of 29 patients with (drusens) dry age-related macular degeneration and 43 eyes of 43 controls were included in this study. All subjects underwent complete ophthalmic examination including SD-OCT. Central foveal thickness (CFT), photoreceptor layer (PRL) thickness and retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) thickness were measured and compared between the groups. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ranged between 20/20 and 20/200. RPE (36.10 ± 5.48 μm Vs 39.27 ± 4.30) and PRL thickness (53.93 ± 7.36 μm Vs 61.20 ± 4.50 μm) were significantly reduced in patients with drusens compared to controls. Increase in age was a significant risk factor for drusens (OR: 1.22, p < 0.001) and increased PRL thickness was a protective factor (OR: 0.720, p = 0.002). PRL thickness was significantly associated with BCVA (p = 0.019).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With an increased resolution of SD-OCT, the involvement of the outer retinal layers was more clearly defined. SD-OCT may allow for the early detection of exudative changes.
authors.affiliation: Elite School of Optometry, No. 8, G.S.T. Road, St. Thomas Mount, Chennai 600 016, Tamil Nadu, India; Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Vitreoretinal Services, 18, College Road, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai 600 006, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Laxmi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gella
authors.affiliation: Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Vitreoretinal Services, 18, College Road, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai 600 006, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raman
authors.affiliation: Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Vitreoretinal Services, 18, College Road, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai 600 006, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Tarun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sharma
keywords: Age related macular degeneration; Photoreceptor layer; Retinal pigment epithelium; Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography