Abnormalities of the Optic Disc

Papilledema appearance

Color pink, hyperemic Often with loss of venous pulsations Disc vessels more visible, more numerous, curve over the borders of the disc Disc swollen with margins blurred The physiologic cup is not visible. Seen in intracranial mass, lesion, or hemorrhage, meningiti

Optic Atrophy apperance

Color white Tiny disc vessels absent Seen in optic neuritis, multiple sclerosis, temporal arteritis Sources

Normal disk appearance

Color yellowish orange to creamy pink Disc vessels tiny Disc margins sharp (except perhaps nasally) The physiologic cup is located centrally or somewhat temporally. It may be conspicuous or absent. Its diameter from side to side is usually less than half that of the disc.

Optic Atrophy process

Death of optic nerve fibers leads to loss of the tiny disc vessels

Papilledema process

Elevated intracranial pressure causes intraaxonal edema along the optic nerve, leading to engorgement and swelling of the optic disc

Glaucomatous Cupping process

Increased pressure within the eye leads to increased cupping (backward depression of the disc) and atrophy. The base of the enlarged cup is pale.

Glaucomatous Cupping apperance

The physiologic cup is enlarged, occupying more than half of the disc's diameter, at times extending to the edge of the disc. Retinal vessels sink in and under it, and may be displaced nasally

Normal disk process

Tiny disc vessels give normal color to the disc.