1. A method for detecting optical neuropathy in a subject, comprising: (1) generating an initial map centered on the fovea (macular map) or the optic nerve head (peripapillary map) using an optical coherence tomography (OCT), wherein said initial map consists of a scanning pattern covering an area at least about 6 mm×6 mm at for the macular map or at least about 4 mm×4 mm for the peripapillary map; (2) constructing a map of a retinal property based on the initial map, wherein said retinal properties is one selected from retinal thickness, retinal reflectance, or retinal location; (3) computing a derivative map from the map of retinal property; (4) applying a pattern analysis method to the map of retinal property or the derivative map to detect abnormal areas; and (5) determining one or more diagnostic parameters based on the map of retinal property, derivative map, detected abnormal areas, or a combination thereof, wherein said diagnostic parameters, map of retinal property and the derivative map can each be used alone or in combination to diagnose and differentiate different types of optic neuropathies.