RETICULAR PSEUDODRUSEN - A RISK FACTOR IN AGE-RELATED MACULOPATHY

Background: Reticular pseudodrusen refer to a yellow interlacing netwo rk 125 mu m to 250 mu m wide appearing first in the superior outer mac ula and then extending circumferentially and beyond. Unlike true druse n, they do not fluoresce on fluorescein or indocyanine green angiograp hy, and are best seen in red-free light or with the He-Ne laser of the scanning laser ophthalmoscope. Methods: One hundred patients have bee n seen in our retinal practice with this clinical feature in the past 3 years. Results: All had some manifestation of age-related maculopath y (ARM), and 66% had or subsequently developed subretinal new vessels in one or both eyes. The appearance is attributed to changes in the ch oroid. Conclusions: Reticular pseudodrusen are an easily recognizable clinical sign, and may be an important risk factor for choroidal neova scularization in ARM.