Hard Drusen

• Commonly present in all ages on fundus photograph.
• The incidence and prevalence of hard drusen is not age related.
• Their presence alone is not sufficient to diagnose early age related maculopathy.
• Hard drusen is not associated with increased risk for the development of choroidal neovascularization.
• Histologically are globular deposits of hyaline material.

Clinical Features

• Symptoms: typically asymptomatic
• Signs:
  • Small, hard drusen has been defined as being < 64 µm in diameter
  • Discrete, yellow-white deposits that are external to RPE
  • Almost always have distinct and well-defined border
• Fluorescein angiogram usually demonstrates pin-point window defect.