The optic disc is the round, pale area at the back of the eye where about one million retinal ganglion cell axons gather to leave as the optic nerve. The central retinal artery and vein enter and exit here. Because it has no photoreceptors, it creates the physiological blind spot in each visual field.
| Location | About 3-4 mm nasal to the fovea at the back of the eye |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Optic nerve (CN II) |
| Blood Supply | Central retinal artery; Short posterior ciliary arteries (circle of Zinn-Haller) |
Provides the exit point for retinal nerve fibres and the entry and exit point for retinal blood vessels.
Disc appearance is a key part of eye examination. An enlarged central cup (raised cup-to-disc ratio) suggests glaucoma. Swollen discs on both sides from raised intracranial pressure (papilloedema) require urgent neuroimaging. A pale disc indicates optic atrophy from prior damage.
Swelling of both optic discs from raised intracranial pressure, for example from a brain tumour or idiopathic intracranial hypertension. It needs urgent investigation.
Progressive loss of nerve fibres at the disc rim, enlarging the cup, with matching visual field loss.
Infarction of the optic nerve head causing sudden painless vision loss with a swollen disc. Giant cell arteritis must be excluded in older patients.
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