Risk factors in nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.

The authors have investigated risk factors associated with the occurrence of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) in 83 patients and 124 eyes. 12% of the patients with nonarteritic AION had diabetes mellitus, 37.3% hypertension, 14.5% atherosclerosis, while the rest (36.2%) were classified as idiopathic. The incidence of bilateral AION was slightly less than 50%. The period in which both eyes get affected is usually 1-2 months or longer. Nonarteritic AION can occur at any age, therefore it is seen in young people as well. The role of arterial hypertension and diabetes in pathogenesis of AION is still to be determined.