ophthalmoscopic findings suggestive of glaucoma

Diagnostic procedures

ophthalmoscopy

• vertical elongation of the optic disk with a cup/disk ratio of > 0.5
• asymmmetry of the cup/disk ratio of the 2 eyes, even if both are apparently normal
• flame-shaped hemorrhages on the edge of the disk
• bending of the retinal vessels as they pass over the rim of an enlarged cup &/or nasal displacement of the retinal vessels as they emerge from the optic disk
• disk is pale, rather than hyperemic*

* temporal pallor of the optic nerve (disk) is seen in conditions that damage the optic nerve; i.e., glaucoma, brain tumors, inflammation of the optic nerve

Additional terms

• glaucoma
• ophthalmoscopy