Acquired pits of the optic nerve in glaucoma

✍ Scribed by Robert S. Stutman

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 782 KB
• Volume: 8
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0953-4431
• DOI: 10.1016/s0953-4431(96)00187-7

✦ Synopsis

An acquired pit of the optic nerve WON) is a discrete, focal area of depression within the optic cup at the level of the lamina cribrosa. It is an under-diagnosed sign of glaucoma damage due to its subtle appearance. APONs occur more frequently unilaterally and in patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). They often correspond to a deep, sharp-margined scotoma approaching or involving fixation. Given the location and progressive nature of the associated visual field defects, glaucoma patients and glaucoma suspects should be evaluated for this sign of localized optic nerve damage.