Korean J Ophthalmol.  2016 Aug;30(4):289-294. 10.3341/kjo.2016.30.4.289.

Analysis of Fundus Photography and Fluorescein Angiography in Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy and Optic Neuritis

• Kim MK
• Kim US

• KMID: 2373989
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2016.30.4.289

Abstract

PURPOSE
We evaluated fundus and fluorescein angiography (FAG) findings and characteristics that can help distinguish nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) from optic neuritis (ON).
METHODS
Twenty-three NAION patients and 17 ON with disc swelling patients were enrolled in this study. We performed fundus photography and FAG. The disc-swelling pattern, hyperemia grade, presence of splinter hemorrhages, cotton-wool spots, artery/vein ratio and degree of focal telangiectasia were investigated. The FAG findings for each patient were compared with respect to the following features: the pattern of disc leakage in the early phase, arteriovenous (artery/vein) transit time (second), and the presence and pattern of the filling delay.
RESULTS
Cotton-wool spots, focal telangiectasia, and venous congestion were more common in the affected eyes of NAION patients. Upon FAG, 76.5% of the patients in the ON group exhibited normal choroidal circulation. However, 56.5% of patients in the NAION group demonstrated abnormal filling defects, such as peripapillary, generalized, or watershed zone filling delays.
CONCLUSIONS
Fundus findings, including cotton-wool spots, focal telangiectasia, and venous congestion in the affected eye, may be clues that can be used to diagnose NAION. In addition, choroidal insufficiencies on FAG could be also helpful in differentiating NAION from ON.

Keyword

Fluorescein angiography; Fundus photography; Ischemic optic neuropathy; Optic neuritis

MeSH Terms

Choroid/blood supply/*diagnostic imaging
Female
Fluorescein Angiography/*methods
Fundus Oculi
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Optic Disk/blood supply/*diagnostic imaging
Optic Neuritis/*diagnosis
Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic/*diagnosis
Photography/*methods
Retrospective Studies

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Fluorescein angiography findings between nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) patients and optic neuritis (ON) patients.

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