Finding library
Clinical Findings
Understanding clinical signs and findings your doctor may observe during examination. These guides explain what each finding means and its significance for your diagnosis.
17 finding guides reviewed by ophthalmology clinicians
Related: Associated conditions • Diagnostic tests
Optic Disc Edema (Swelling)
Swelling of the optic disc that can be caused by increased intracranial pressure, inflammation, or other conditions.
Drusen
Yellow deposits that accumulate under the retina, commonly associated with aging and age-related macular degeneration. Different from optic disc drusen.
Optic Atrophy
Pallor of the optic disc that marks the loss of optic nerve fibers. Atrophy is an endpoint, not a diagnosis - the central task is hunting down the cause and stopping any damage that is still treatable.
Optic Disc Cupping
What the cup-to-disc ratio in your eye exam means, why it matters for glaucoma, and how a high or asymmetric cup is interpreted.
Pseudopapilledema
An optic disc that looks elevated but is not truly swollen. Distinguishing pseudopapilledema from real papilledema avoids unnecessary workup.
Anisocoria (Unequal Pupils)
A difference in pupil size between the two eyes. Most often harmless, but the right pattern can point to Horner syndrome, an Adie tonic pupil, or a third nerve palsy - one of which is a medical emergency.
Light-Near Dissociation
A pupil finding where the pupils respond poorly to light but constrict normally to a near target - an important clue to several neurological conditions.
Relative Afferent Pupillary Defect (RAPD)
A pupil finding indicating damage to the optic nerve or retina on one side, detected with the swinging flashlight test.
Altitudinal Visual Field Defect
Loss of the top or bottom half of one eye's vision that stops at the horizontal midline. This horizontal border is the signature of a circulation problem at the optic nerve head or retina, and a sudden one can be an emergency.
Bitemporal Hemianopia
Loss of peripheral vision on both sides (temporal fields), typically caused by compression of the optic chiasm from a pituitary tumor or other midline lesion.
Homonymous Hemianopia
Loss of vision on the same side (left or right) in both eyes, caused by damage to the brain's visual pathways, often from stroke.
Quadrantanopia
Loss of one quarter of vision in the same quarter of both eyes. A quadrantanopia respects the vertical midline and points behind the eyes, into the optic radiations of the temporal or parietal lobe - which makes it a brain finding, not an eye problem.
Cherry-Red Spot
A vivid red spot at the center of a pale macula - a striking and clinically important finding pointing to retinal artery occlusion or specific metabolic diseases.
Cotton-Wool Spots
Fluffy white patches on the retina seen during a dilated eye exam. They reflect small areas of nerve fiber damage and have many possible causes.