Drusen, from the German word for node or geode (singular, "Druse"), are tiny yellow or white accumulations of extracellular material that build up between Bruch's membrane and the retinal pigment epithelium of the eye.

[1] However, the presence of larger and more numerous drusen in the macula is a common early sign of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

[4] Around 1850, three authors, Carl Wedl, Franciscus Donders, and Heinrich Müller, gave drusen different labels.

Later, Heinrich Müller named them by the German word for geode, based on their glittering appearance.

In some cases, drusen develop above the so-called pillars of the choriocapillaris that is the area between two micro vessels;[9] although important variations are observed between different subtypes of AMD.

While it is possible to eliminate drusen with this treatment strategy, it has been shown that this fails to reduce the risk of developing the choroidal neovascularisation which causes the blindness associated with age-related macular degeneration.