Drusen evolution affects photoreceptor IS/OS junction integrity

The photoreceptor inner segment/outer segment (IS/OS) junction integrity can be affected by drusen evolution, according to a study in Retina.

Dr Kathrin Hartmann et al., Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, California, USA, performed drusen volume raster scans through 2624 drusen in 14 eyes with clinically dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

All eyes were longitudinally followed up between 23 and 28 months without intervention and a total of 416 of the drusen scanned were analysed for the study.

Of the drusen studied, 20% regressed spontaneously, 51% demonstrated no change in size and 29% progressed. The mean drusen size was 63.7 ± 25.7 μm. The cross-sectional analysis of drusen morphology revealed a link between drusen size and disrupted IS/OS junction/photoreceptor integrity. The IS/OS junction integrity was intact in the drusen that regressed over time.

Drusen evolution can cause structural disruption of the IS/OS junction and after drusen regression the IS/OS junction can either restore drusen regression or artifactitiously compress it.

The abstract for this study can be found here here.