Optic nerve head drusen are benign acellular calcium concretions that usually form early in life, just anterior to the lamina cribrosa. Improving imaging using optical coherence tomography suggests they are common and may be present in many clinically normal discs. These drusen may change in appearance in early life, but are generally stable in adulthood, and may be associated with visual field defects, anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy, or rarer complications. Based on long-term clinical data and optical coherence tomography, we propose a refined hypothesis as to the cause of optic disc drusen. Here we summarise recent findings and suggest future studies to better understand the forces involved.
Keywords: Optic disc drusen; calcification; congenital anomalies; mitophagy; neurodegeneration; optic disc oedema; papilloedema.