title: Ophthalmoscopy of the retinal nerve fiber layer. Use in detection of neurologic disease.
abstract: Ophthalmoscopic examination of the retinal nerve fiber layer may demonstrate changes associated with a variety of diseases. These alterations are of four general types: slit or rake defects, sector atrophy, diffuse atrophy, and density changes in the nerve fibers themselves. With practice and the use of a bright source of "red-free" light, recognition of these alterations provides a bedside tool for evaluation of te anterior visual pathways.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology*; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D010211:Papilledema / Q000175:diagnosis; D012160:Retina / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology*