Purpose: To assess the relationship between age-related macular degeneration and appearance of the optic disk.
Method: By morphometric evaluation of wide-angle color fundus photographs, 143 patients with age-related macular degeneration were compared with 33 normal subjects and with 83 diabetic patients.
Results: Size and shape of the optic disk and size of parapapillary atrophy did not vary significantly (P > .12) between the study groups.
Conclusions: Age-related macular degeneration is not associated with special features in the appearance of the optic disk. Parapapillary atrophy, large or small optic disk, and abnormal disk shape are neither risk factors nor protective factors of age-related macular degeneration.