Optic papilla

Optic Papilla

The Optic Papilla, also known as the Optic Disc or Blind Spot, is a crucial part of the human eye. It is the point of exit for ganglion cell axons leaving the eye. Because there are no retinal cells to detect light on the optic disc, it is referred to as the blind spot.

Anatomy[edit | edit source]

The optic papilla is a vertically oval area located 3.5 mm to the nasal side of the macula. It measures approximately 1.5 mm in diameter (horizontally). The optic disc is the end of the optic nerve that has a crucial role in carrying visual information from the eye to the brain.

Function[edit | edit source]

The primary function of the optic papilla is to transmit visual information from the retina to the brain. The optic disc is where the ganglion cells leave the eye, and the optic nerve begins. Despite being a blind spot, our brains 'fill in' the missing information so that we do not perceive the blind spot in normal, everyday vision.

Clinical significance[edit | edit source]

Examination of the optic disc can reveal conditions such as glaucoma, optic neuritis, and papilledema, which is optic disc swelling due to raised intracranial pressure. In ophthalmology and optometry, examining the optic disc is a crucial part of the assessment of patients.