Optic nerve cupping and the neuro-ophthalmologist

Abstract

BACKGROUND: While glaucoma is the most common cause of optic disc cupping, it can also be seen in a number of congenital and acquired optic neuropathies. It behooves both glaucoma and neuro-ophthalmic specialists to be able to differentiate glaucoma from neurological conditions, which give a similar ophthalmoscopic appearance to the optic disc. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: This review is a combination of the authorsEclinical experience from tertiary glaucoma and neuro-ophthalmology referral centers, combined with a literature review using PubMed. RESULTS: Even for experienced observers, differentiation between glaucomatous and nonglaucomatous cupping can be difficult. In the majority of cases, this..