Reticular Drusen

Reticular drusen, also known as reticular pseudo-drusen (RPD), refers to drusen-like material which is more prominent under blue light. Unlike the drusen which lie below the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), RPD are located superficial to the RPE. To date, the underlying pathobiologic features for the accumulation of these deposits is not well known. RPD appear as dot like whitish-yellow subretinal structures in a cluster that are usually connected in a reticular pattern. Based on color fundus imaging, it has been assumed that RPD represent a rare phenomenon largely because their detection with this imaging method is challenging. However, using spectral domain optical coherence tomography and infrared reflectance imaging, RPD are much more easily visualized and identified and recorded commonly in eyes with age-related macular degeneration. The area superior to the fovea (which has highest rod photoreceptor density) is most commonly involved with RPD. The fovea however, is typically spared. Credit: Kemal Tekin, M.D., from Ulucanlar Eye Training and Research Hospital Instagram accounts: @retina.academy and @dr.kemaltekin