Nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy and intraocular pressure
J. W. Kalenak, G. S. Kosmorsky and E. J. Rockwood
Department of Ophthalmology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195-5024.
Several reports have suggested that nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic
neuropathy (AION) may be related to increased intraocular pressure. We
reviewed the records of 45 patients aged 48 through 86 years with
nonarteritic AION (10 patients had bilateral AION) for intraocular pressure
measurements and the diagnosis of glaucoma or suspected glaucoma. This
group was compared with 45 age- and sex-matched patients with normal eye
examination results. The mean +/- SD intraocular pressures were 16.3 +/-
3.3 mm Hg for 45 eyes of the 45 patients with AION and 16.1 +/- 2.8 mm Hg
for 45 eyes of the 45 control patients (paired t test, P = .70). Among
patients with unilateral AION, intraocular pressure was not greater in the
involved eye than in the uninvolved eye. Three patients with AION had a
previous diagnosis of glaucoma, while three of the control patients were
being followed up with suspected glaucoma. We found no evidence in our
series to support the hypothesis that AION is associated with increased
intraocular pressure.
