| Macular drusen are simply small yellow or white | | | | 2) Very often seen in those 40 and older |
| deposits of lipid (a fatty compound)and calcium | | | | 3) Not an indication of the development of |
| that build up in the Bruch's membrane of the eye. | | | | macular degeneration |
| The Bruch's Membrane is a layer of tissue | | | | 4) May develop into the soft kind |
| underneath the retina. | | | | 5) Made up of lipids and calcium |
| My husband, who has a strong family history, | | | | Soft Drusen |
| went for his yearly eye exam this week, and we | | | | This type is considered to be an early indicator of |
| wanted to know if any of these little, yellow | | | | macular degeneration, although some people with |
| deposits had developed in the past year. | | | | this type do not develop macular degeneration. |
| Thankfully, not yet. | | | | The soft form are characterized by:pale |
| Well, why is this important to know? And if I | | | | yellowill-defined borderslarger than the hard |
| have some of these deposits should I be | | | | formvary in size and shape. |
| concerned? It may depend on what type you | | | | Soft Deposits: |
| have. | | | | 1) Are more often associated with loss of vision |
| There are two main types: | | | | 2) May cause the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) |
| 1) Hard and | | | | to separate from the other retinal layers. |
| 2) Soft | | | | If you have a family history of macular |
| Hard Drusen | | | | degeneration it is especially important to know if |
| This type of deposit is the less harmful form. | | | | you are forming these deposits. |
| They are characterized by:round shapedistinct, | | | | Once they have been detected in your eye |
| well defined bordersand are quite small. | | | | exam, it is time to take note and make some |
| They are: | | | | changes in your diet and lifestyle. |
| 1) Very common with age and are | | | | |