Optic disc drusen--a photographic study. I. Autofluorescence pictures and fluorescein angiography.

As part of an examination of 180 patients with optic disc drusen, autofluorescence pictures had been taken in 116 patients and fluorescein angiograms in 67 patients. The superficial optic disc drusen often show a very bright nodular autofluorescence, but more important is the diffuse, not so intensive autofluorescence that the buried drusen may show. Thus, a diagnosis of hidden drusen can also be made if autofluorescence can be demonstrated. Fluorescein angiography may also reveal the buried drusen that do not show autofluorescence, and it may be of help in the differential diagnosis of pseudopapilloedema from true papilloedema. It may also indicate anomalous vascular patterns that may be associated with optic disc drusen.