Optic disc pit prevalence associated with glaucoma

Optic disc pit prevalence increases with age and is strongly associated with high-pressure open-angle glaucoma (OAG), according to a study published in the January/February issue of the Journal of Glaucoma.

Paul Healey and colleagues from the University of Sydney, Australia conducted a population-based, cross-sectional study of 3,654 persons aged 48 years or older. Stereo-optic disc photographs were graded in a masked fashion.

A total of nine pits were found in seven persons, a population prevalence of 0.19%. Four peripheral pits were found at the inferior pole, four central pits were located adjacent to the main vessel trunk and one pit was on the temporal disc margin. Pit prevalence increased with aged ([BETA]=0.0879, p=0.0099) and was found to be strongly associated with high-pressure OAG, peripapillary atrophy and optic disc haemorrhage. All peripheral pits were associated with paracentral visual field loss.

The results of this study suggest that optic disc pits are primarily associated with glaucoma and optic disc haemorrhage.