DEFECTS IN VISUAL FIELDS PRODUCED BY HYALINE BODIES IN THE OPTIC DISKS

Abstract

The presence of hyaline bodies in the optic disks occasionally produces an appearance that may simulate that of chronic papilledema with secondary optic nerve atrophy. When the glistening bodies are large and lie near the surface, they cause little difficulty in diagnosis, but when they are small and lie buried so deeply within the nerve substance that they are scarcely visible, they may cause a fulness that is difficult to explain. In fact, unless they are looked for specifically, they may pass unnoticed. Not only is the appearance of the optic disks misleading, but field defects are encountered rather frequently in this condition, either in the form of peculiar contractions or of arcuate scotomas. Such defects may confuse the diagnostician still further. This impairment of vision was mentioned by Reese¹in his excellent review of the subject in 1940. In general, however, little attention has been paid to the