Evaluation of the topography of the optic disc is of clinical importance to assess the degree of nerve damage. We conducted a study in 17 glaucomatous and 20 control subjects with a scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO; Rodenstock) and compared the results with those in conventional photographs. A tomographic image of the cup area in control subjects and the neuroretinal rim area in glaucomatous subjects obtained with the SLO was smaller than that in photographs taken with a conventional camera (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 respectively). In both the control and glaucoma groups, the optic disc area obtained with the SLO was significantly smaller than that in conventional photographs (P < 0.01). The coefficient of variation of the optic disc parameters studied with the SLO range from 4.2% to 9.1%. A correlation between the optic disc indices studied with SLO and the mean defect of the visual field was statistically significant. The tomographic images obtained by the SLO permit accurate assessment of optic nerve damage.