Walsh & Hoyt: Papilledma: Pathology

The essential histological features of papilledema are optic disc edema, neuronal swelling, venous and capillary dilatation, an abnormal protrusion of the optic nerve head toward the vitreous, lateral displacement of the adjacent retina, and folds of the posterior retinal layers. The physiologic optic cup is generally preserved. The separation of the swollen optic disc from the adjacent retina is typically sharp and has the form of an Sshaped curve.