Size of Optic Nerve

Ask an Eye M.D. Answer Archive

Question:
What is the physical size of the optic nerve? What can you compare the average size (diameter) to?

Answer:
It depends on where in the course of the optic nerve you are talking about. The average optic nerve is 1500 microns (or 1.5 millimeters) in size where it enters into the back of the eye. As it leaves the eye, the nerve size increases and varies in size until it intersects with the fellow eye's optic nerve at the optic chiasm. Optic nerve size can vary in individuals.

Answered by: John Kitchens, MD 

Categories: General Eye Health

Have a question that hasn't been answered yet? Ask it!