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Optic disc
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Main page This article is about the anatomical feature of the eye. For digital storage media such as CDs and DVDs, see
Contents optical disc.
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The optic disc or optic nerve head is the point of exit for ganglion cell
Random article Optic disc
About Wikipedia axons leaving the eye. Because there are no rods or cones overlying the
Contact us optic disc, it corresponds to a small blind spot in each eye.
Donate The ganglion cell axons form the optic nerve after they leave the eye.

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The optic disc represents the beginning of the optic nerve and is the
point where the axons of retinal ganglion cells come together. The optic
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disc is also the entry point for the major blood vessels that supply the
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Community portal retina.[1] The optic disc in a normal human eye carries 1–1.2 million
Recent changes afferent nerve fibers from the eye towards the brain.
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Contents [hide]
Tools 1 Structure
Ophthalmoscopy photograph showing
What links here 2 Function the optic disc as a bright area on the
Related changes 3 Clinical significance right where blood vessels converge.
Special pages 3.1 Pale disc
Permanent link 3.2 Imaging
Page information
4 See also
Cite this page
5 References
Wikidata item
6 External links
Print/export
Download as PDF The terminal portion of the optic nerve
Structure [ edit ] and its entrance into the eyeball, in
Printable version
horizontal section.
The optic disc is placed 3 to 4 mm to the nasal side of the fovea. It is a
In other projects Details
vertical oval, with average dimensions of 1.76mm horizontally by
Identifiers
Wikimedia 1.92mm vertically.[2] There is a central depression, of variable size,
Commons Latin Discus nervi optici
called the optic cup. This depression can be a variety of shapes from a MeSH D009898
Languages shallow indentation to a bean pot—this shape can be significant for TA98 A15.2.04.019
‫العربية‬ diagnosis of some retinal disease. TA2 6788
Bosanski FMA 58634
Català Function [ edit ] Anatomical terminology
Español [edit on Wikidata]
The optic disc or optic nerve head is the point of exit for ganglion cell
Italiano
axons leaving the eye. Because there are no rods or cones overlying the
മലയാളം
optic disc, it corresponds to a small blind spot in each eye.
Polski
Русский
Clinical significance
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[ edit ]

5 more
The eye is unique because of the transparency of its optical media. Almost all eye structures can be examined
with appropriate optical equipment and lenses. Using a modern direct ophthalmoscope gives a view of the optic
Edit links
disc using the principle of reversibility of light. A slit lamp biomicroscopic examination along with an appropriate
aspheric focusing lens (+66D, +78D or +90D) is required for a detailed stereoscopic view of the optic disc and
structures inside the eye.

A biomicroscopic exam can give an indication of the health of the optic nerve. In particular, the eye care
physician notes the colour, cupping size (as a cup-to-disc ratio), sharpness of edge, swelling, hemorrhages,
notching in the optic disc and any other unusual anomalies. It is useful for finding evidence corroborating the
diagnosis of glaucoma and other optic neuropathies, optic neuritis, anterior ischemic optic neuropathy or
papilledema (i.e. optic disc swelling produced by raised intracranial pressure), and optic disc drusen.

Women in advanced stage of pregnancy with pre-eclampsia should be screened by an ophthalmoscopic

examination of the optic disc for early evidence of rise in intracranial pressure.

Pale disc [ edit ]

A normal optic disc is orange to pink in colour. A pale disc is an optic
disc which varies in colour from a pale pink or orange colour to white. A
pale disc is an indication of a disease condition.[citation needed]

Imaging [ edit ]
Traditional colour-film camera images are the reference standard in
imaging, requiring an expert ophthalmic photographer, ophthalmic
technician, optometrist or an ophthalmologist for taking standardised
pictures of the optic disc. Stereoscopic images offer an excellent
investigative tool for serial follow-up of suspected changes in the hands
of an expert optometrist or ophthalmologist.
Schematic diagram of the human eye,
Automated techniques have also been developed to allow for more with the optical disc, or blind spot, at the
bottom.
efficient and less expensive imaging. Heidelberg retinal tomography
(HRT), scanning laser polarimetry and optical coherence tomography
are computerised techniques for imaging various structures of the eyes,
including the optic disc. They quantify the nerve fiber layer of disc and
surrounding retina and statistically correlate the findings with a database of
previously screened population of normals. They are useful for baseline and
serial follow-up to monitor minute changes in optic disc morphology. Imaging
will not provide conclusive evidence for clinical diagnosis however, and the
evidence needs to be supplanted by serial physiological testing for functional
changes. Such tests may include visual field charting and final clinical
interpretation of the complete eye examination by an eye care physician.
Ophthalmologists and optometrists are able to provide this service. Optic disc cross-sections
imaged by an SD-OCT.
Blood flow in the retina and choroid in the optic disc region can be revealed
non invasively by near-infrared laser Doppler imaging.[3] Laser Doppler
imaging can enable mapping of the local arterial resistivity index, and the possibility to perform unambiguous
identification of retinal arteries and veins on the basis of their systole-diastole variations, and reveal ocular
hemodynamics in human eyes.[4] Furthermore, the Doppler spectrum asymmetry reveals the local direction of
blood flow with respect to the optical axis. This directional information is overlaid on standard grayscale blood
flow images to depict flow in the central artery and vein.[5]

A systematic review of 106 studies and 16,260 eyes compared the performance of the imaging techniques, and
found that all three imaging tests performed very similarly when detecting for glaucoma.[6] The review found that
in 1000 patients subjected to imaging tests, with 200 having manifest glaucoma, the best imaging tests would
miss 60 cases out of the 200 patients with glaucoma, and incorrectly refer 50 out of 800 patients without
glaucoma.[6]

Blood flow in the optic disc
revealed by holographic laser
Doppler imaging.[3]
Local direction of blood flow with Three dimensional image of a
respect to the optical axis healthy optic disc in a 24-year-old
revealed by the Doppler spectrum female.
asymmetry in out-of-plane retinal
vessels by holographic laser
Doppler imaging.[5]

Optic disc showing Tilted optic disc in left eye of a 20- Optic disc edema and
microvasculature. year-old male. haemorrhage

See also [ edit ]

Optic disc pallor

References [ edit ]
1. ^ "blind spot" . Encyclopædia Britannica. 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
2. ^ Tasman, William; Jaeger, Edward A (2006). "Chapter 4: Anatomy of the Visual Sensory System". Duane's
Ophthalmology. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 9780781768559. OCLC 318288606 .
3. ^ a b Puyo, L., M. Paques, M. Fink, J-A. Sahel, and M. Atlan. "In vivo laser Doppler holography of the human retina."
Biomedical optics express 9, no. 9 (2018): 4113-4129.
4. ^ Puyo, Léo, Michel Paques, Mathias Fink, José-Alain Sahel, and Michael Atlan. "Waveform analysis of human retinal and
choroidal blood flow with laser Doppler holography." Biomedical Optics Express 10, no. 10 (2019): 4942-4963.
5. ^ a b Puyo, L., M. Paques, and M. Atlan. "Retinal blood flow reversal in out-of-plane vessels imaged with laser Doppler
holography" https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.09813
6. ^ a b Michelessi M, Lucenteforte E, Oddone F, Brazzelli M, Parravano M, Franchi S, Ng SM, Virgili G (2015). "Optic nerve
head and fibre layer imaging for diagnosing glaucoma" . Cochrane Database Syst Rev (11): CD008803.
doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008803.pub2 . PMC 4732281 . PMID 26618332 .

External links [ edit ]

Diagram at Moorfields Eye Hospital

Diagram at Ballard Optical [permanent dead link]
Retinal Vein Pulsation Is in Phase with Intracranial Pressure and Not Intraocular Pressure

V ·T ·E Anatomy of the globe of the human eye [hide]

Episcleral layer · Schlemm's canal ·

Fibrous tunic (outer)
Uvea/vascular tunic (middle)
Retina (inner)
Anatomical regions of the eye
Keratocytes · Ocular immune system ·
Optical coherence tomography · Eye care professional ·
Other
Eye disease · Refractive error · Accommodation ·
Physiological Optics · Visual perception
Sclera
Trabecular meshwork
Limbus · layers (Epithelium · Bowman's ·
Cornea Stroma · Dua's layer · Descemet's ·
Endothelium)
Capillary lamina of choroid ·
Choroid
Bruch's membrane · Sattler's layer
Ciliary processes · Ciliary muscle ·
Ciliary body
Pars plicata · Pars plana
Stroma · Pupil · Iris dilator muscle ·
Iris
Iris sphincter muscle
Inner limiting membrane · Nerve fiber layer ·
Ganglion cell layer · Inner plexiform layer ·
Inner nuclear layer
Layers Outer plexiform layer · Outer nuclear layer
External limiting membrane ·
Layer of rods and cones ·
Retinal pigment epithelium
Photoreceptor cells (Cone cell, Rod cell)
(Horizontal cell) Bipolar cell
(Amacrine cell) Retina ganglion cell
(Midget cell, Parasol cell, Bistratified cell,
Cells
Giant retina ganglion cells,
Photosensitive ganglion cell)
Diencephalon: P cell, M cell, K cell,
Muller glia
Macula (Perifoveal area · Parafoveal area ·
Other Fovea (Foveal avascular zone · Foveola)) ·
Optic disc (Optic cup) · Ora serrata
Adnexa (Eyebrow, Eyelid,
Conjunctiva, Lacrimal system,
Orbit) · Fibrous tunic ·
Anterior chamber ·
Anterior segment
Aqueous humour · Iris ·
Posterior chamber · Ciliary body ·
Lens (Capsule of lens ·
Zonule of Zinn)
Vitreous chamber
Posterior segment (Vitreous body) · Retina ·
Choroid

Authority control MA: 2779735895 · TA98: A15.2.04.019

Categories: Human eye anatomy

This page was last edited on 28 May 2021, at 22:51 (UTC).

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