Abstract
Drusenoid pigment epithelial detachments (dPEDs) are a high-risk feature of intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD), associated with progression to geographic atrophy (GA) or macular neovascularization (MNV). We present a patient who presented in 2021 with an outside diagnosis of neovascular AMD in the right eye and dry AMD in the left eye. Swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) revealed a drusenoid PED without MNV or exudation in the right eye, eliminating the indication for anti-VEGF treatment at our clinic. During follow-up, the PED collapsed, resulting in decreased visual acuity and development of GA. OCT biomarkers, including hyperreflective foci, RPE hypertransmission, and outer retinal disruption, may help identify PEDs at increased risk of collapse. Photobiomodulation (Valeda) has shown some initial promising visual outcomes in dry AMD, but its role in improving clinically significant visual acuity, preventing PED collapse and atrophic progression remains unproven. This case highlights the importance of accurate diagnosis, careful OCT monitoring, and further investigation into the benefits and risks of photobiomodulation in high-risk dPEDs.
Presentation Date: 11/05/2026
Issue Date: 11/06/2026
