Saucerisation (recession) of neuro-retinal rim is characteristic of glaucoma

Colour stereophotographs of the optic disc and surrounding retina were assessed by a Humphrey analyser system in a series of Japanese individuals. When compared with 9 age- and sex-matched control eyes (9 controls), the 10 eyes of 10 patients with early open-angle glaucoma showed a significantly lower level of the mid-point of the neuroretinal rim relative to the level of the surface of the retina about 1/4 of a disc diameter beyond the disc edge. When the mid-point of the rim was related to the surface of tissue at the disc edge, the level of the former was significantly lower at the three measurement points on the nasal side and at 6 o'clock. In the 9 normal controls, the lower half of the neuro-retinal rim was at a significantly lower level than the upper half, relative to the surface of tissue at the disc edge. We conclude that saucerisation and/or recession of the neuro-retinal rim frequently accompanies glaucoma and we suspect it is an early sign of it.