Optic disc drusen are ______________ bodies located within the optic disc.

• A. Hyaline bodies
• B. Lipid bodies
• C. Calcified bodies
• D. Pigmented bodies

Answer: (A)

Optic disc drusen are hyaline bodies located within the optic disc. They are extracellular, hyaline-like deposits that accumulate in the prelaminar region of the optic nerve head and can be buried beneath the surface early on. Over time these deposits often become calcified, so they’re frequently described as calcified hyaline bodies. The hyaline nature reflects their glassy, protein-rich appearance histologically, which distinguishes them from lipid-rich exudates or pigmented lesions. Clinically, they can appear as pale or refractile nodules within the disc and may lead to visual field changes due to crowding of nerve fibers, but their basic description is hyaline, often calcified, deposits in the optic nerve head.