PURPOSE: Large colloid drusen (LCD) are a subgroup of early onset drusen recently reported. The aim of this study was to describe morphologic features in patients affected with LCD using high-resolution spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). METHODS: A complete ophthalmologic examination including SD-OCT was performed in 22 eyes of 11 consecutive patients. RESULTS: Mean age was 35 years old at diagnosis, and mean visual acuity was 20/25. In all eyes, SD-OCT showed multiple dome-shaped retinal pigment epithelium detachments corresponding to the drusen. Mean height of drusen was 199 μm (range, 108-316 μm) and mean width was 419 μm (range, 190-681 μm). Indocyanine green angiography hypofluorescent LCD were larger and more reflective on SD-OCT than indocyanine green angiography hyperfluorescent LCD. All drusen appeared convex with medium and homogeneous internal reflectivity. Retina overlying LCD appeared wavy and overall thinned. Prominent diffuse hyperreflective haze in the Henle fiber layer over drusen was noted in 73% of the eyes. No geographic atrophy or choroidal neovascularization was observed. CONCLUSION: The peculiar SD-OCT features reported in the current series give insight on the ultrastructure of LCD. Further studies with follow-up evaluation and possibly histologic evaluation are needed to clarify the clinical significance of LCD.
PURPOSE: Large colloid drusen (LCD) are a subgroup of early onset drusen recently reported. The aim of this study was to describe morphologic features in patients affected with LCD using high-resolution spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). METHODS: A complete ophthalmologic examination including SD-OCT was performed in 22 eyes of 11 consecutive patients. RESULTS: Mean age was 35 years old at diagnosis, and mean visual acuity was 20/25. In all eyes, SD-OCT showed multiple dome-shaped retinal pigment epithelium detachments corresponding to the drusen. Mean height of drusen was 199 μm (range, 108-316 μm) and mean width was 419 μm (range, 190-681 μm). Indocyanine green angiography hypofluorescent LCD were larger and more reflective on SD-OCT than indocyanine green angiography hyperfluorescent LCD. All drusen appeared convex with medium and homogeneous internal reflectivity. Retina overlying LCD appeared wavy and overall thinned. Prominent diffuse hyperreflective haze in the Henle fiber layer over drusen was noted in 73% of the eyes. No geographic atrophy or choroidal neovascularization was observed. CONCLUSION: The peculiar SD-OCT features reported in the current series give insight on the ultrastructure of LCD. Further studies with follow-up evaluation and possibly histologic evaluation are needed to clarify the clinical significance of LCD.