J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2012 Aug;53(8):1143-1149. 10.3341/jkos.2012.53.8.1143.

Fluorescein Angiographic Findings of Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy and Optic Neuritis

• Kim SB
• Kyung SE

• KMID: 2215958
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2012.53.8.1143

Abstract

PURPOSE
To compare the fluorescein angiographic findings of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NA-AION) and optic neuritis.
METHODS
The present study included 41 patients (41 eyes), who were diagnosed with NA-AION or optic neuritis and underwent fluorescein angiography in our clinic. The clinical profiles of patients, characteristics of optic disc head and hemorrhage, and visual field findings were analyzed retrospectively. The onset and filling time, perfusion time of retinal artery, optic disc, and peripapillary choroid were evaluated quantitatively.
RESULTS
Patients with NA-AION showed statistically significant delay in both the onset time, filling time and perfusion time of the optic disc and peripapillary choroid compared with patients with optic neuritis (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the dye leakage of the peripapillary areas between the 2 groups (p = 0.324).
CONCLUSIONS
In the present study, the results of fluorescein filling were significantly different between the NA-AION group and the optic neuritis group. The results may help determine the therapeutic plan and to differentiate between the 2 disease entities, especially in cases of overlapping clinical features.

Keyword

Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy; Fluorescein angiography; Optic neuritis

MeSH Terms

Choroid
Fluorescein
Fluorescein Angiography
Head
Hemorrhage
Humans
Optic Neuritis
Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic
Perfusion
Retinal Artery
Retrospective Studies
Visual Fields
Fluorescein

Figure

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  Figure 1 Fluorescein angiographic findings of typical case of optic neuritis. Fundus color photograph (A) shows optic disc edema. The fluorescein angiographic finding at 13 seconds (B) shows the beginning of the filling of optic disc head and peripapillary choroid. The finding at 17 seconds (C) shows the complete filling of peripapillary choroid and optic disc head.

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  Figure 2 Fluorescein angiographic findings of typical case of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. Fundus color photograph (A) shows optic disc edema with hemorrhage. The fluorescein angiographic finding at 20 seconds (B) shows the delayed filling of peripapillary choroid and optic disc head. The finding at 36 seconds (C) shows complete filling of peripapillary choroid and optic disc.

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