The COMS Grading Scheme: Graded Features

Perivascular sheathing

White lines along the edges of the arterial or venous blood column (sheathing) or complete opacification of the venous wall (“white threads”) are the abnormalities graded.  The total length of vessels involved by either appearance is graded.  Sheathing is not graded within 500 microns of the optic disc.  Sheathing is to exceed the minimal sheathing standard to be graded as present. 

Severity

None: not present

Mild:  less than 1000 microns (minimum standard photograph)

Perivascular sheathing
click on any image for higher resolution image
click on your browser's "back" button to return to this page

Moderate: more than 1000 microns, but less than 3000 microns
Severe: more than 3000 microns

back to COMS index


last updated: 06-27-2006