What is asymmetric optic nerve cupping?

Imagine the optic nerves of your eyes to be analogous to a cable coming to a television set. The optic nerve is the black coaxial cable, the television would represent your eye. The silver coaxial connection which affixes the cable to the television would be your optic nerve head.

Inside the optic nerve head, the axons of the retina collect to travel down the optic nerve. That area of concentrated axons forms a cup on the optic nerve head. In most of us, the cup of the right and left eye are the same size. In some individuals, the cupping can be asymmetrical (or out of balance) when comparing the right and left eyes.

A concern arises when there is a greater than 10% difference in cupping between the eyes. If this has always been the case (you were born this way), then this is not something to be alarmed about. However, if this condition has been recently acquired, then there is reason for concern. The only way to be sure is to look at past retinal photography of the optic cupping or to monitor for further change from this point forward.

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