A Pigmented Optic Disc

Abstract

This report describes the case of a 48-year-old white woman who was found to have an entirely pigmented optic disc in an otherwise normal eye. Pigmentation of the optic disc is an uncommon finding. The possible explanations of this physiologic variant are discussed.

A deep look into a grey optic disc using Spectralis OCT

“…In our patient, optic discs were small, measuring approximately 1.5 mm. This fact is concordant with the literature, in which usually pigmented discs are described as hypoplasic …”

“…The presence of pigment in the lamina cribosa is common in the eyes of many animals, including sheep, cows, pigs, camels, crocodiles, alligators; however, in humans constitutes an uncommon finding, that can be categorised as primary or secondary …”

“…Primary pigmentation of the optic disc usually occurs in hypoplasic non‐cupped optic discs . It usually has a bilateral presentation and an association with several conditions has been reported .…”

“…The presence of pigment in the lamina cribosa is common in the eyes of many animals, including sheep, cows, pigs, camels, crocodiles, alligators; 1 however, in humans constitutes an uncommon finding, that can be categorised as primary or secondary. 2 Primary pigmentation of the optic disc usually occurs in hypoplasic non-cupped optic discs. 2 It usually has a bilateral presentation and an association with several conditions has been reported.…”

“…1 However, in humans the presence of an entirely pigmented optic disc, constitutes an uncommon finding. [2][3][4] In this patient, for the first time, enhanced deep imaging technology (EDI) was used, demonstrating that the pigment is mainly located in the lamina cribosa.…”