IMAGING OF OPTIC-NERVE HEAD DRUSEN WITH THE SCANNING LASER OPHTHALMOSCOPE

Background-Optic nerve head drusen may present diagnostic difficulties in cases of disc swelling. Imaging of the nerve in a search for druse n is often inconclusive, especially in children, where drusen may be b uried below the surface of the nerve head. Methods-A small study was c arried out using a scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) with an infrare d confocal facility to scan deep within optic discs in an attempt to i mage drusen. Results-The SLO was able to strate superficial and buried (using the infrared confocal facility). The superiority of the SLO ov er ultrasound in the presence of lens opacity was revealed, as the SLO simultaneously demonstrated both drusen and the associated anomalous disc features which are not detected by ultrasound. Conclusion-The SLO can help in the diagnosis of optic disc drusen especially in difficul t cases where lens opacity or buried drusen hinders their definitive d iagnosis.