Optic disc pallor (atrophy) refers to which description of the optic disc color?

Optic disc pallor (atrophy) refers to which description of the optic disc color?

• A. Increase in disc vascularity
• B. Change in the color of the disc from pink to white
• C. Blurring of disc margins
• D. Swelling of the optic disc

Answer: (B)

Pallor of the optic disc is seen as a pale, white appearance of the disc. Normal discs are pink, but when there is optic nerve atrophy, the nerve tissue has degenerated and the color fades toward white. This reflects loss of neural elements and supporting tissue, not an increase in blood flow. The other descriptors describe edema or vascular changes—swelling with blurred margins indicates swelling, and increased vascularity implies more blood flow or congestion—neither of which corresponds to pallor. So the description that matches pallor is a change from pink to white.

Pallor of the optic disc is seen as a pale, white appearance of the disc. Normal discs are pink, but when there is optic nerve atrophy, the nerve tissue has degenerated and the color fades toward white. This reflects loss of neural elements and supporting tissue, not an increase in blood flow. The other descriptors describe edema or vascular changes—swelling with blurred margins indicates swelling, and increased vascularity implies more blood flow or congestion—neither of which corresponds to pallor. So the description that matches pallor is a change from pink to white.