This document summarizes different types of ischemic optic neuropathies. It describes non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAAION) as being caused by occlusion of the short posterior ciliary arteries, often affecting older patients with structural crowding at the optic nerve head. Treatment focuses on underlying risk factors but does not restore vision. Arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AAION) is caused by giant cell arteritis which involves large arteries and risks blindness if not treated immediately with high-dose steroids. Posterior ischemic optic neuropathy (PION) is rare and caused by ischemia of the retrolaminar optic nerve.

1. ISCHAEMIC OPTIC
NEUROPATHIES

2. DEFINITION
 Acute , painless optic neuropathy occurring
predominantly in patients over 50 yrs of age.

3. INTRODUCTION
Optic nerve ischemia most frequently occurs at the
optic nerve head, where structural crowding of nerve
fibres and reduction of the vascular supply may
combine to impair perfusion to a critical degree and
produces optic disc edema.

4. TYPES
Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.
Arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.
Nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.
Posterior ischemic optic neuropathy.

5. Nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic
neuropathy.
 PATHOGENESIS-
NAAION is caused by occlusion of the short posterior
ciliary arteries resulting in partial or total infarction of
the optic nerve head.
 PREDISPOSITION-
Structural crowding of the optic nerve head results in
small or absent physiological cup.
Hypertension , diabetes mellitus,
hyperlipidaemia,collagen vascular
disease,hyperhomocysteinaemia,sudden hypotensive
event.

6.  PRESENTATION
 Most commonly in 6th-7th decades with
sudden,painless, monocular visual loss.
 Visual loss is frequently discovered on awakening
suggesting that nocturnal hypotension may play an
important role.

7.  SIGNS
 VA in about 30% of patients is normal or only slightly
reduced the remainder has moderate to severe
impairment.
 Visual field defect are typically inferior altitudnal but
central,paracentral,quadrantic and arcuate defect may
also be seen.
 Dyschromatopsia is usually proportional to the level of
visual impairment,in contrast with optic neuritis in which
colour vision may be severely impaired when visual acuity
is reasonably good.
 Diffuse or sectoral hyperaemic disc swelling ,often
associated with a few peripapillary splinter haemorrhages.
 The swelling gradually resolves and pallor ensues 3-6
weeks after onset.

9.  SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS
Blood pressure
Fasting lipid profile
Blood glucose
It is very important to exclude occult giant cell
arteritis.

10.  TREATMENT
There is no definitive treatment
Any underlying systemic predisposition should be
treated
Aspirin is effective in reducing systemic vascular
events and is frequently prescribed in patients with
NAAION, it does not appear to reduce the risk of
involvement of the fellow eye.

11.  PROGNOSIS
Involvement of the fellow eye occurs in about 10%
of patients after 2yrs and 15 % after 5 yrs.
When the second eye becomes involved ,optic
atrophy in one eye and disc edema in other eye give
rise to the ‘pseudo-foster kennedy syndrome’

12. Arteritic anterior ischemic optic
neuropathy.
AAION is caused by giant cell arteritis.
Giant cell arteritis is a granulomatous necrotizing
arteritis with a predilection for large and medium size
arteries particularly the superficial temporal,
ophthalmic, posteriar cilliary and proximal vertebral
artery.
The severity and extent of involvement are associated
with tha quantity of elastic tissue in the media and
adventitia.

13.  PRESENTATION
Patients present in old age with---
Scalp tenderness
Headache
Jaw claudication
Polymyalgia rheumatica
Non specific symptoms such as neck pain etc.

14.  OTHER FEATURES
Superficial temporal arteritis is charecterized by
thickend ,infalmmed, and nodular arteries which
can not be flattened against the skull.
Pulsation is initially present but later ceases
In very severe cases scalp gangrene may ensue.
ESR is often very high.
CRP is raised
Temporal artery biopsy.

15.  Treatment of giant cell arteritis
Systemic steroids
Ophthalmic manifestation of giant cell arteritis
AAION
Affects 30-50% of untreated patients
 PRESENTATION
Sudden profound unilateral visual loss with
periocular pain.

16.  SIGNS
Severe visual loss is the rule,commonly to LP or
worse
Pale,oedematous disc is suggestive of GCA.
Over 1-2 months the swelling gradually resolves and
severe optic atrophy develops.

18.  TREATMENT
Treatment is aimed at preventing blindness of the
fellow eye.
Although the second eye may still become involved
in 25% of cases.
Visual loss is usually profound and is unlikely to
improve even with immediate treatment.

19.  The regimen is as follows
IV methylprednisolone 1g/day for 3 days then oral
prednisolone 1-2mg/kg/day in tapering doses.
Oral prednisolone alone
Antiplatelet therapy
Immunosuppresssives.
PROGNOSIS is very poor because visual loss is
usually permanent.

20. Posterior ischaemic optic neuropathy
 PION is much less common than the AION
 Caused by ischaemia of the retrolaminar portion of
the optic nerve supplied by the surrounding pial
capillary plexus.