Stanford Center for Optic Disc Drusen at the Byers Eye Institute

Department of Ophthalmology

Welcome

Optic disc drusen affect vision and the optic nerve - the connection between the eye and the brain. For unknown reasons, damaged optic nerve axons lead to calcium-containing deposits and abnormal mitochondria at the optic nerve head. These deposits are present in about 2% of the general population, similar to the prevalence of glaucoma, and can lead to vision loss. There is active research being done on why this causes vision loss for some, but not for others.

At the Stanford Center for Optic Disc Drusen at the Byers Eye Institute, we have a premier group of faculty dedicated to investigating visual dysfunction and optic nerve damage in optic disc drusen and related diseases,  with hopes that we can protect and restore vision. These include investigators who specialize in studies of the retina, optic nerve, and brain. We also have experts in clinical trial design who can help translate our findings to novel clinical studies.

The goals of our research include: (1) better understand patients with optic disc drusen and why some people develop vision loss, (2) develop cellular and animal models of optic disc drusen and test possible treatment, and (3) learn how optic disc drusen are related to other optic neuropathies like ischemic optic neuropathy and glaucoma and how optic neuropathies affect the brain visual processing.

Connect with us

Press & Media

For press and media to work with the Stanford Center for Optic Disc Drusen at the Byers Eye Institute, they must contact the Department of Ophthalmology and the Stanford Medicine Office of Communication & Public Affairs, as the Department of Ophthalmology falls within the School of Medicine. To find out more information, visit here.

After visiting the above website, draft a group email regarding press and media to:

• the necessary Stanford Medicine Office of Communication & Public Affairs contact(s)

• opticdiscdrusen@stanford.edu

• Janice Turi at jturi@stanford.edu. 

 

Related Websites

YOU'RE INVITED: 2024 Optic Disc Drusen Hybrid Conference

The Stanford Center for Optic Disc Drusen at the Byers Eye Institute will host the 5th annual international conference on April 22, 2024.  

This 5th annual international conference aims to share laboratory and clinical advances on optic disc drusen, an orphan disease that is associated with vision loss and optic nerve calcification.  Our goal for this meeting was to seed collaborative opportunities, educate the public, and to strategize about how to rapidly advance the field.

2023 Optic Disc Drusen conference photo highlights

The 2023 Optic Disc Drusen Hybrid Conference happened April 17, 2023. 

2022 Optic Disc Drusen conference videos available now

Missed our 2022 Optic Disc Drusen Virtual Conference? View video highlights from the event below. 

2022 Optic Disc Drusen conference photo highlights

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this was the first year we hosted the event with partial in-person attendance.

YOU'RE INVITED: 2022 Optic Disc Drusen Hybrid Conference

The 2022 Optic Disc Drusen Hybrid Conference will take place May 31, 2022 at Stanford and on Zoom.

New Optic Disc Drusen Publications

We are pleased to highlight 4 recent publications on optic disc drusen.

Rare eye disease is focus of new Stanford Medicine center

A $10 million gift has enabled the launch of a center focusing on optic disc drusen, a poorly understood eye disease that can lead to visual impairment or even blindness.

YOU'RE INVITED: 2021 Optic Disc Drusen Virtual Conference

The 2021 Optic Disc Drusen Virtual Conference will take place May 17, 2021 at Stanford via Zoom.

YOU'RE INVITED: Inaugural Optic Disc Drusen Virtual Conference

The Inaugural Optic Disc Drusen Virtual Conference will take place May 11, 2020 at Stanford via Zoom.

Introducing: the new Center for Optic Disc Drusen at Stanford

Optic disc drusen (ODD) are calcified deposits found at the anterior optic nerve in about 2% of the general population. It affects both children and adults and can sometimes run in families.