Comparison of Congenital Disc Blurring and Incipient Papilledema in Red-Free Light --A Photographic Study

¹ Neuro-Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Neurosurgery, Neurology, and Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco

Magnified red-free photography reveals distinct differences in the appearance of the peripapillary retinae in two commonly confused conditions. Eyes with congenitally blurred disc margins have normal striated nerve fiber bundle patterns and glistening vascular highlights that are also visible with a direct ophthalmoscope and a bright red-free light source. In eyes with incipient papilledema, the peripapillary retina looses all of its superficial light reflexes and appears deep red and lusterless; stagnation of blood flow in the fundus from the effects of elevated intracranial pressure and orbital venous pressure reduces the reflecting properties of nerve fiber and underlying vascular tissue. Red-free ophthalmoscopy permits accurate clinical differentiation of these omnious and innocuous types of "blurred" optic discs.

Key Words: Ocular fundus • optic disc • retinal nerve fibers • red-free photography • intracranial hypertension • papilledema • congenital optic disc blurring

Submitted on December 29, 1972
Accepted on January 25, 1973

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