drusen

Etiology

• age-related macular degeneration

Pathology

• small yellow-white spots of variable size seen around macula & posterior pole of the eye on funduscopic examination of patients with age-related macular degeneration.
• drusen are accumulations of protein & lipid, beneath the retinal epithelium & within an elastin-containing structure known as Bruch membrane
• the drusen may coalesce heralding progession of macular degeneration from the non-exudative or dry stage to the exudative stage
• drusen typically do not cause loss of vision

More general terms

• retinal deposit

Additional terms

• macular degeneration