Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Determination of the neuroretinal rim area using the horizontal and vertical disc and cup diameters

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

Abstract

• Background: This study evaluated whether the neuroretinal rim area can be calculated on the basis of the horizontal and vertical diameters of the optic disc and cup applying the formula of an ellipse. • Methods: Color stereo optic disc photographs of 587 normal subjects and 1193 patients with glaucoma were morphometrically examined. In a first method, the areas of the optic disc and cup were planimetrically measured and the area of the neuroretinal rim was determined as optic disc area minus cup area. In a second method, the optic disc and cup were assumed to have an elliptical shape. Their areas were calculated by applying the formula of an ellipse, taking into account their horizontal and vertical diameters. As in the first method, the rim area was then determined as disc area minus cup area. • Results: The values of the neuroretinal rim area as measured using the first method differed by 0.05±0.05 mm2 from the values as calculated by the second method. The average error was 2.8±2.9% for the normal group and 8.2±20.8% for the glaucoma patients. It increased with decreasing neuroretinal rim area and increasing mean visual field defect. • Conclusions: For clinical purposes, the neuroretinal rim area can be determined on the basis of the horizontal and vertical diameters of the optic disc and cup. The horizontal and vertical disc and cup diameters being determinable upon ophthalmoscopy, this finding is important for the direct measurement of optic disc morphology during any ophthalmoscopic examination.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Airaksinen PJ, Drance SM (1985) Neuroretinal rim area and retinal nerve fiber layer in glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol 103: 203–204

    Google Scholar 

  2. Beck RW Savino PJ, Repka MX, Schatz NJ, Sergott RC (1984) Optic disc structure in anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. Ophthalmology 91: 1334–1337

    Google Scholar 

  3. Betz P, Camps F, Collignon-Brach C, Weekers R (1981) Photographie stéréoscopique et photogrammétrie de l'excavation physiologique de la papille. J Fr Ophtalmol 4: 193–203

    Google Scholar 

  4. Burk ROW, Rohrschneider K, Noack H, Völcker HE (1992) Are large optic nerve heads susceptible to glaucomatous damage at normal intraocular pressure? Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 230: 552–560

    Google Scholar 

  5. Caprioli J, Miller JM, Sears M (1987) Quantitative evaluation of the optic nerve head in patients with unilateral visual field loss from primary open-angle glaucoma. Ophthalmology 94: 1484–1487

    Google Scholar 

  6. Derick RJ, Quigley HA (1994) Slit lamp determination of real optic nerve size in glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci (Suppl), (ARVO Abstract) 35: 1341

    Google Scholar 

  7. Drance SM, Balazsi G (1984) Die neuroretinale Randzone beim frühen Glaukom. Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd 184:271–273

    Google Scholar 

  8. Funk J, Bornscheuer C, Grehn F (1988) Neuroretinal rim area and visual field in glaucoma. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 226: 431–434

    Google Scholar 

  9. Jonas JB, Naumann GOH (1987) Papillengruben in gro ßen Papillae nervi optici. Papillometrische Charakteristika in 15 Augen. Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd 191: 287–291

    Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  11. Jonas JB, Gusek GC, Naumann GOH (1988) Optic disc morphometry in chronic primary open-angle glaucoma. I. Morphometric intrapapillary characteristics. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 226: 522–530

    Google Scholar 

  12. Jonas JB, Koniszewski G, Naumann GOH (1989) “Morning-Glory-Syndrom” bzw “Handmann'sche Anomalie” in kongenitalen Makropapillen. Extremvariante “konfluierender Papillengruben”? Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd 195: 371–374

    Google Scholar 

  13. Jonas JB, Zäch FM, Gusek GC, Naumann GOH (1989) Pseudoglaucomatous physiologic large cups. Am J Ophthalmol 107: 137–144

    Google Scholar 

  14. Jonas JB, Fernández MC, Naumann GOH (1990) Glaucomatous optic nerve damage in small discs with low cup/disk ratios. Ophthalmology 97: 1211–1215

    Google Scholar 

  15. Jonas JB, Montgomery DMI, Königsreuther KA (1994) Calculation of the optic disc and cup area using the minimal and maximal disc and cup diameters (letter). Br J Ophthalmol 78: 510

    Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  17. Montgomery D (1991) Measurement of optic disc and neuroretinal rim areas in normal and glaucomatous eyes. Ophthalmology 98: 50–59

    Google Scholar 

  18. Montgomery DMI (1993) Clinical disc biometry in early glaucoma. Ophthalmology 100: 52–56

    Google Scholar 

  19. Jonas JB, Papastathopoulos K (1995) Ophthalmoscopic measurement of the optic disc. Ophthalmology. (in press).

  20. Rosenberg MA, Savino PJ, Glaser JA (1979) A clinical analysis of pseudopapilledema. I. Population, laterality, acuity, refractive error, ophthalmoscopic characteristics and coincident diseases. Arch Ophthalmol 97: 65–70

    Google Scholar 

  21. Spencer AF, Vernon SA (1994) Optic disc measurement with the Zeiss four mirror contact lens. Br J Ophthalmol 78:775–780

    Google Scholar 

  22. Spencer WH (1978) Drusen of the optic disc and aberrant axoplasmatic flow. The XXXIV Edward Jackson Memorial Lecture. Am J Ophthalmol 85: 1–12

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, University Eye Hospital, Schwabachanlage 6, D-91054, Erlangen, Germany

    Jost B. Jonas

  2. Tennent Eye Institute of Ophthalmology, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, Scotland, UK

    Donald M. I. Montgomery

Authors
  1. Jost B. Jonas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Donald M. I. Montgomery
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jonas, J.B., Montgomery, D.M.I. Determination of the neuroretinal rim area using the horizontal and vertical disc and cup diameters. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 233, 690–693 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00164670

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00164670

Keywords

Search

Navigation