Papilledema Grades

Leslie Pham, MD, Michael Wall, MD

December 17, 2009, updated January 5, 2010

Back to Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

Grade I papilledema is characterized by a C-shaped halo with a temporal gap

With Grade II papilledema, the halo becomes circumferential

Grade III papilledema is characterized by loss of major vessels AS THEY LEAVE the disc (arrow)

Grade IV papilledema is characterized by loss of major vessels ON THE DISC.

Grade V papilledema has the criteria of grade IV plus partial or total obscuration of all vessels of the disc.