ECHOGRAPHIC DIAGNOSIS OF DRUSEN OF THE OPTIC-NERVE HEAD IN PATIENTS WITH ANGIOID STREAKS

A total of 58 patients (116 eyes) with angioid streaks, referred to th is department over 2 years (1990-1992), underwent a thorough ophthalmi c examination, retinal fluorescein angiography, dermatological visit w ith skin biopsy, and a series of other examinations (blood and biochem istry, skull X-ray, vascular echo Doppler, abdominal ultrasound) and e ye ultrasonography. Fifty patients (100 eyes, 86.2%) had pseudoxanthom a elasticum (PXE). In the whole caselist, 21.6% had drusen compared wi th 21.0% in the group with PXE. Both these findings are higher than th ose published elsewhere. Drusen of the optic nerve head were also foun d in 25% of the 16 eyes (8 patients) with angioid streaks but no PXE. We believe we found a higher prevalence of drusen of the optic nerve h ead in these patients with angioid streaks because we systematically e mployed ultrasound.