Skip to main content
Log in

Covariation of optic disc measurements and ocular parameters in the healthy eye

  • Clinical Investigation
  • Published:
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To understand the variations in optic disc topography that may affect the local susceptibility of nerve fibers to glaucomatous damage, we evaluated the correlations between optic disc topography and selected ocular parameters in 210 normal eyes of healthy Japanese. In the total study group, eyes with a longer axial length had a longer distance between the disc and foveola, a larger index of ovalness and a larger disc (P < 0.01). A longer disc-foveola distance correlated with a larger index of ovalness (P<0.01). The optic discs of severely myopic eyes had a considerably different structure from other eyes. Eyes with a tilted optic disc were unique in that the area of the optic disc was not large despite a positive correlation with long axial length (P<0.01) a long disc foveola distance (P<0.01), and a large index of ovalness (P<0.01). Eyes with a rotated optic disc were another special case. This eye type correlated in a contradictory fashion with two parameters: a large axial length (P<0.01) and a short disc-foveola distance (P<0.01). These findings suggest that changes in optic disc topography or susceptibility to glaucomatous damage correlate with selected ocular parameters but are not completely parallel.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Apple DJ, Rabb MF, Walsh PM (1982) Congenital anomalies of the optic disc. Surv Ophthalmol 27:3–41

    Google Scholar 

  2. Armaly MF (1967) Genetic determination of cup/disc ratio of the optic nerve. Arch Ophthalmol 78:35–43

    Google Scholar 

  3. Beck RW, Servais GE, Hayreh SS (1987) Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. IX. Cup-to-disc ratio and its role in pathogenesis. Ophthalmology 94:1503–1508

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bishop KI, Werner EB, Krupin T, Kozart DM, Beck SR, Nunan FA, Wax MB (1988) Variability and reproducibility of optic disc topographic measurement with the Rodenstock optic nerve head analyzer. Am J Ophthalmol 106:696–702

    Google Scholar 

  5. Britton RJ, Drance SM, Schulzer M, Douglas GR, Morrison DK (1987) The area of the neuroretinal rim of the optic nerve in normal eyes. Am J Ophthalmol 103:497–504

    Google Scholar 

  6. Chi T, Ritch R, Stickler D, Pitman B, Tsai C, Hsieh FY (1989) Racial differences in optic nerve head parameters. Arch Ophthalmol 107:836–839

    Google Scholar 

  7. Chihara E, Chihara K (1992) Apparent cleavage of the retinal nerve fiber layer in normal eyes with high myopia. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 230:416–420

    Google Scholar 

  8. Chihara E, Honda Y (1992) Preservation of nerve fiber layer by retinal vessels in glaucoma. Ophthalmology 99:208–214

    Google Scholar 

  9. Chihara E, Honda Y (1992) Multiple retinal nerve fiber layer defects in glaucoma. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 230:201–205

    Google Scholar 

  10. Chihara E, Sawada A (1990) Atypical nerve fiber layer defects in high myopes with high-tension glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol 108:228–232

    Google Scholar 

  11. Chihara E, Takahara S (1993) Positive correlation between rotation of the optic disc and location of glaucomatous scotomata. In: Mills RP (ed) Perimetry Update 1992/1993, Kugler, Amsterdam, pp 199–205

    Google Scholar 

  12. Chihara E, Tanihara H (1992) Parameters associated with papillomacular bundle defects in glaucoma. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 230:511–517

    Google Scholar 

  13. Curtin B (1985) Adult progression of myopia. In: Curtin B (ed) The myopia. Harper & Row, Philadelphia, pp 394–400

    Google Scholar 

  14. Fledelius HC (1988) Refraction and eye size in the elderly: a review based on literature, including own results. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh) 66:241–248

    Google Scholar 

  15. Hernandez MR, Igoe F, Neufeld AH (1986) Extracellular matrix of the human optic nerve head. Am J Ophthalmol 102:139–148

    Google Scholar 

  16. Ishii K (1951) Optic disc diameter in Japanese. Acta Soc Ophthalmol Jpn 55:242–243

    Google Scholar 

  17. Jonas JB, Gusek GC, Naumann GOH (1988) Optic disc, cup and neuroretinal rim size configuration and correlations in normal eyes. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 29:1151–1158

    Google Scholar 

  18. Jonas JB, Gusek GC, Naumann GOH (1988) Optic disc morphometry in high myopia. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 226:587–590

    Google Scholar 

  19. Levene RZ (1982) Unusual optic discs in primary open-angle glaucoma. Ann Ophthalmol 14:617–620

    Google Scholar 

  20. Littmann H (1982) Zur Bestimmung der wahren Größe eines Objektes auf dem Hintergrund des lebenden Auges. Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd 180:286–289

    Google Scholar 

  21. Perkins ES, Phelps CD (1982) Open angle glaucoma, ocular hypertension, low tension glaucoma and refraction. Arch Ophthalmol 100:1464–1467

    Google Scholar 

  22. Quigley HA, Addicks EM (1981) Regional differences in the structure of the lamina cribrosa and their relation to glaucomatous optic nerve damage. Arch Ophthalmol 99:137–143

    Google Scholar 

  23. Quigley HA, Brown AE, Morrison JD, Drance SM (1990) The size and shape of the optic disc in normal human eyes. Arch Ophthalmol 108:51–57

    Google Scholar 

  24. Shiose Y, Kitazawa Y, Tsukahara S, Akamatsu T, Mizokami K, Futa R, Katsushima H, Kosaki H (1991) Epidemiology of glaucoma in Japan: a nationwide survey. Jpn J Ophthalmol 35:133–155

    Google Scholar 

  25. Szily A von (1922) Ueber den Conus in heterotypischer Richtung. Albrecht v. Graefe's Arch Ophthalmol 110: 183–291

    Google Scholar 

  26. Tanaka Y, Tarumi T, Wakimoto K (1984) Handbook for statistic analysis by a personal computer. Kyoritsu Co, Tokyo, pp 1–142

    Google Scholar 

  27. Tsai CS, Ritch R, Shin DH, Wan JY, Chi T (1992) Age-related decline of disc rim area in visually normal subjects. Ophthalmology 99:29–35

    Google Scholar 

  28. Weiss AH, Ross EA (1992) Axial myopia in eyes with optic nerve hypoplasia. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 230:372–377

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chihara, E., Chihara, K. Covariation of optic disc measurements and ocular parameters in the healthy eye. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 232, 265–271 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00194475

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00194475

Keywords

Navigation