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Project Description

Please note that we are a research service provider, not a pharmacy or clinic, so we are unable to see patients and do not offer diagnostic and treatment services for individuals.

Optic Disc Drusen (ODD)

Optic disc drusen (ODD) represent acellular deposits found within the optic nerve head. Protheragen provides a full set of services to aid in the creation of new ODD diagnostics and therapeutics. These services cover the complete preclinical research and development process, beginning from target of interest identification and validation to in vivo efficacy studies.

Overview of Optic Disc Drusen (ODD)

Optic disc drusen are acellular deposits of calcium, amino acids, nucleic acids, and mucopolysaccharides that lie within the periphery of the optic nerve head. These deposits can be found in as much as 2.4% of the population as asymptomatic deposits. Even so, most of the time are associated with visual field defects and may pose the risk of severe vision impairment because of complications like ischemic optic neuropathy in the anterior part of the eye. Even though they profoundly affect a person's vision, the development processes involved in creating and maturing ODD have not yet been revealed, and there are or have not been no proper methods for dealing with the possibility of getting afflicted.

Optical coherence tomography analysis case.

Fig. 1 Central sections from dense, enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography scans of the optic nerve head. (Steensberg A. H., et al., 2025)

Pathogenesis of Optic Disc Drusen (ODD)

Multifactorial causes including genetic factors and disturbed axonal metabolism are thought to underlie the development of Optic Disc Drusen (ODD) lesions. Histological evidence indicates ODD develops due to the accumulation of intra-axonal material due to interrupted axoplasmic flow leading to blockage beyond the lamina cribrosa. This blockage results in the expulsion of mitochondria and further calcification. Inheritance studies show some patterns of dominant inheritance with non-penetrating expression, but no concrete gene has been linked. Furthermore, the role of the size of the scleral canal and congenital optic disc dysplasia have also been advanced with diverging evidence of their influence on ODD.

Diagnostics Development for Optic Disc Drusen (ODD)

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)

Enhanced Depth Imaging (EDI)-OCT and Swept-Source (SS)-OCT are particularly helpful since they permit the viewing of deeper structures. These technologies make it possible to classify ODD as signal-poor cores encompassed by hyperreflective margins which enhance their identification and differentiation from other optic nerve pathologies such as papilledema.

Autofluorescence and Fluorescein Angiography

Autofluorescence imaging can identify ODD by their natural fluorescence which appears as hyperautofluorescent structures. Contrarily, with the aid of fluorescein angiography, ODD and optic disc edema can be differentiated by noting the presence of nodular disc staining and the stasis of blood flow in the peripapillary choriocapillaris.

Orbital Computed Tomography (CT)

Through orbital CT scans it is possible to identify hyperdense regions that correspond with calcified ODD features. Like all imaging studies, CT has major drawbacks such as insensitivity to smaller ODDs and concerns of radiation doses, especially for the pediatric population.

B-scan Ultrasonography

B-scan ultrasonography continues to be a dependable method of detecting calcified ODD. It is economically advantageous and can diagnose ODD due to their distinctive hyperechoic features and posterior acoustic shadowing. That said, it is non-invasive and cannot evaluate neuroaxonal disruption.

Therapeutics Development for Optic Disc Drusen (ODD)

Intraocular Pressure Lowering Agents
The possible contribution of intraocular pressure (IOP) to ODD-related vision loss has received considerable attention. Although animal studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective benefits of IOP-lowering drugs like brimonidine, human studies have been inconclusive. The absence of a striking link between IOP and visual field reduction in individuals with ODD indicates that therapies targeting IOP reduction might not be effective in all cases.
Vasoactive Agents
It has been said that cases suffering from ODD could benefit from Pentoxifylline, a xanthine derivative. However, there is only scant clinical evidence supporting this theory. The same can be said for Ginkgo biloba, which is a traditional medicine known for its neuroprotective properties and is used alongside other therapies. More research into the efficacy of ODD management using Ginkgo biloba is needed.

Our Services

Protheragen is a leading provider of comprehensive solutions for the development of diagnostics and therapeutics focused on Optic Disc Drusen (ODD). Our robust preclinical research services utilize state-of-the-art techniques to delve into the pathogenesis of ODD, enabling us to create innovative therapeutic strategies that address the underlying causes and potential therapeutics for this condition.

Diagnostics Development

Therapeutic Development

Preclinical Research

Disease Models

Surgical Mouse Models
Nonhuman Primate ODD Models
Japanese Macaque ODD Models
Cynomologus Macaque ODD Models

Protheragen's customized services are tailored to meet the unique needs of each project, ensuring that our clients receive targeted support for their ODD-related research and development initiatives. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.

References

Steensberg, Alvilda H., et al. "Prevalence screening for familial optic disc drusen: a cross-sectional study." Neuro-Ophthalmology 49.1 (2025): 43-50.
Hamann, Steffen, Lasse Malmqvist, and Fiona Costello. "Optic disc drusen: understanding an old problem from a new perspective." Acta Ophthalmologica 96.7 (2018): 673-684.