Abstract
Purpose::
Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy is most commonly a unilateral process, and when it occurs bilaterally it is typically sequential. Our goal was to determine the prevalence of bilateral optic disc edema in nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) and compare the clinical features of these patients with those of typical NAION.
Methods::
A consecutive retrospective observational case series of patients with NAION seen over a one year period by a single investigator. Clinical examinations included measurement of visual acuity, assessment of visual fields, and funduscopy.
Results::
Forty patients with NAION were seen with acute optic disc swelling from NAION over a one year period. Three (7.5%) of 40 patients were noted to have optic disc edema bilaterally. In each of these three patients the optic disc edema and clinical course looked typical for NAION with the exception that both optic discs were swollen. No other causes of the optic disc edema were noted in these patients.
Conclusions::
NAION can occur bilaterally so that both optic discs are swollen at the time of examination. The clinical features of these patients were similar to those of patients with typical NAION.
Keywords: neuro-ophthalmology: optic nerve • neuro-ophthalmology: diagnosis • optic disc