Abstract
Purpose :
Few studies regarding non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NA-AION) have been reported in Japan. So we aimed to evaluate the clinical presentations and visual outcomes of NA-AION at a single center in Japan (Fukuoka University).
Methods :
In this study, we included eight patients [men:women = 3:5, average age = 58.7 ± 9.0 years (mean ± S.D.), 11 eyes] who could be followed up for 3 months or longer. These patients were diagnosed as having NA-AION between September 2009 and November 2015 at Fukuoka University. Visual acuity (VA) is presented as logMAR values.
Results :
Five patients (62.5%) presented with NA-AION under 60 years of age. The average initial VA was logMAR 0.53, and the average final VA was 0.27; VA declined in only one eye during the follow-up. Four eyes showed an inferior altitudinal defect on visual field testing, 3 showed a nasal scotoma, and 4 showed other visual field abnormalities. Five eyes were treated with systemic corticosteroids, and the others received no treatment. In treated eyes, there was no significant difference between the average initial and final visual acuities (p = 0.54, t-test). It was unclear if systematic corticosteroids were useful for treatment of NA-AION. Cardiovascular risk factors, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hemodialysis, and systemic lupus erythematosus, were observed in 6 patients. The average initial VA of these patients was logMAR 0.96, and that of the others who had not cardiovascular risk factors was logMAR −0.11 (p = 0.08, t-test).
Conclusions :
NA-AION may be more common in middle-aged rather than elderly individuals. Furthermore, VA tends to improve with or without treatment by systemic corticosteroids, and cardiovascular risk factors may influence the initial VA.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.