Characteristics of Optic Disc Appearance in Various Diseases

Abstract

　The optic disc is a critical structure that aggregates the axons of ganglion cells in the retina and transmits visual information to the brain. Damage to this region significantly affects visual acuity and fields, ultimately impeding the “Vision of Life.” It is well-established that various diseases can cause changes in the optic disc. For instance, in glaucoma, characteristic changes such as optic disc cupping enlargement, notching, and bayoneting are essential for diagnosis. Diverse morphological changes in the optic disc have been observed in myopic eyes, including localized defects of the lamina cribrosa, peripapillary chorioretinal atrophy, and acquired pits. These changes were pronounced in highly myopic eyes. Other conditions, such as post-fundus hemorrhage, retinitis pigmentosa, and superior segmental optic disc hypoplasia, can also affect the optic disc. Differentiating these conditions from glaucoma is crucial to ensure appropriate management. Because structural changes in the optic disc often precede visual function impairment, it is important to understand the alterations in optic disc appearance that are associated with various ocular diseases.