Final answer:
Cupping of the optic disc and peripheral vision loss could suggest glaucoma or a pituitary tumor affecting the optic pathways. The blind spot in our vision is compensated for by the brain and overlapping visual fields. Swelling from meningitis can press on the optic nerve, leading to vision loss.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a patient presents with cupping of the optic disc and loss of peripheral vision, it might suggest a diagnosis of glaucoma. Glaucoma often leads to increased pressure within the eye, which can cause the optic disc (the portion of the eye where the optic nerve exits the retina) to appear cupped. This increased pressure damages the optic nerve over time, resulting in the progressive loss of peripheral vision, sometimes referred to as "tunnel vision". Moreover, other causes such as a pituitary tumor could also be suspected if the loss of vision is lateral, as such a tumor, due to its location near the optic chiasm, may compress the optic pathways, leading to visual field deficits such as bilateral hemianopia.
Regarding the question about the blind spot, it arises because the optic disc lacks photoreceptors. However, our brains compensate for this lack by filling in the missing information from the surrounding visual cues, and the overlap of visual fields between the two eyes also helps ensure that the blind spot is not usually noticed.
In the case of meningitis-induced vision loss, the swelling related to meningitis can compress the optic nerve because inflammation can lead to an increased volume of cerebrospinal fluid, tissues or the presence of an abscess, all of which exert pressure on nearby structures including the optic nerve.