Vascular Shunt of the Optic Disc Resembling Neovascularization in a Diabetic patient with Optic Disc Drusen

Abstract

Purpose

To report an insulin-dependent diabetic patient who was referred by the diabetic screening clinic as having proliferative diabetic retinopathy and was found to have bilateral optic disc drusen with optociliary shunt resembling neovascularization on the disc.

Methods

Complete ocular evaluation including a fluorescein angiography was performed.

Results

Fundus examination showed signs of mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy in the right eye and the presence of well-defined optic disc drusen in both eyes with a peculiar vascular abnormality resembling neovascularization on the right disc. The central retinal vein pulsation was normal on digital examination. Autofluorescence confirmed the presence of the optic disc drusen in both eyes. Fluorescein angiography showed no leakage from the optociliary shunt. The vascular abnormality has remained stable for 2 years.

Conclusions

This case highlights the correlation of optic disc drusen and optociliary shunts which in diabetic patients can be misdiagnosed as neovascularization.