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Ischemic Optic Neuropathy

By

John J. Chen

, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic

Reviewed/Revised Oct 2022
View PATIENT EDUCATION

Ischemic optic neuropathy is infarction of the optic disk. It can be arteritic or nonarteritic. The only constant symptom is painless acute vision loss. Diagnosis is clinical. Treatment for the nonarteritic variety is ineffective. Treatment for the arteritic variety does not restore vision but can help protect the unaffected eye.

Two varieties of optic nerve infarction exist: nonarteritic and arteritic.

The nonarteritic variant occurs more frequently, typically affecting people about 50 years and older. Vision loss tends not to be as severe as in the arteritic variant, which usually affects an older group, typically about 70 years and older.

Most ischemic optic neuropathy is unilateral. Bilateral, sequential cases occur in about 20%, but bilateral simultaneous involvement is uncommon. Bilateral involvement is much more common among arteritic than nonarteritic cases.

Atherosclerotic narrowing of the posterior ciliary arteries may predispose to nonarteritic optic nerve infarction, particularly after a hypotensive episode. Any of the inflammatory arteritides, especially giant cell arteritis Giant Cell Arteritis Giant cell arteritis involves predominantly the thoracic aorta, large arteries emerging from the aorta in the neck, and extracranial branches of the carotid arteries. Symptoms of polymyalgia... read more , can precipitate the arteritic form.

Acute ischemia causes nerve edema, which further worsens ischemia. A small optic cup to optic disk ratio is a risk factor for nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy but not for the arteritic variety. Usually, no medical condition is found as the apparent cause of the nonarteritic variety, although factors contributing to atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis is characterized by patchy intimal plaques (atheromas) that encroach on the lumen of medium-sized and large arteries. The plaques contain lipids, inflammatory cells, smooth muscle... read more Atherosclerosis (eg, diabetes Diabetes Mellitus (DM) Diabetes mellitus is impaired insulin secretion and variable degrees of peripheral insulin resistance leading to hyperglycemia. Early symptoms are related to hyperglycemia and include polydipsia... read more , smoking Smoking and Other Tobacco Use Tobacco use is a major individual and public health problem. Dependence develops rapidly. Major consequences include premature death and morbidity caused by cardiovascular disease, lung and... read more , hypertension Hypertension Hypertension is sustained elevation of resting systolic blood pressure (≥ 130 mm Hg), diastolic blood pressure (≥ 80 mm Hg), or both. Hypertension with no known cause (primary; formerly, essential... read more Hypertension ), obstructive sleep apnea Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) consists of multiple episodes of partial or complete closure of the upper airway that occur during sleep and lead to breathing cessation (defined as a period of... read more , certain drugs (eg, amiodarone, possibly phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors), and hypercoagulable disorders are present in some patients and are thought to be risk factors. Vision loss on awakening leads investigators to suspect nocturnal hypotension as a potential cause of the nonarteritic variety.

Symptoms and Signs of Ischemic Optic Neuropathy

Vision loss with both varieties of optic nerve infarction is typically rapid (over minutes, hours, or days) and painless. Some patients notice the loss on awakening. Symptoms such as general malaise, muscle aches and pains, headaches over the temple, pain when combing hair, jaw claudication, and tenderness over the temporal artery may be present with giant cell arteritis; however, such symptoms may not occur until after vision is lost. Visual acuity is reduced, and an afferent pupillary defect is present.

The optic disk is swollen and elevated, and the swollen nerve fibers obscure the fine surface vessels of the optic nerve. Often hemorrhages surround the optic disk. The optic disk may be pale in the arteritic variety and hyperemic in the nonarteritic variety. In both varieties, visual field examination often shows an altitudinal and/or central defect.

Diagnosis of Ischemic Optic Neuropathy

  • Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein, and complete blood count (CBC)

  • Computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and orbits if vision loss is progressive

Diagnosis of optic nerve infarction is based mainly on clinical evaluation, but ancillary testing may be needed. Most important is to exclude the arteritic variety because the other eye is at risk if treatment is not started quickly. Immediate tests include ESR, CBC, and C-reactive protein. ESR is usually dramatically elevated in the arteritic variety, often exceeding 100 mm/hour, and normal in the nonarteritic variety. C-reactive protein is also elevated and is more sensitive than ESR in diagnosing giant cell arteritis Giant Cell Arteritis Giant cell arteritis involves predominantly the thoracic aorta, large arteries emerging from the aorta in the neck, and extracranial branches of the carotid arteries. Symptoms of polymyalgia... read more . CBC is done to identify thrombocytosis (> 400 × 103/mcL), which adds to the positive and negative predictive value of using ESR alone.

If giant cell arteritis is suspected, corticosteroids should be started immediately, and temporal artery biopsy should be done as soon as feasible (at least within 1 to 2 weeks because effects of the prednisone therapy may reduce the diagnostic yield of histopathology). Changes in C-reactive protein level are useful for monitoring disease activity and the response to treatment. For cases of progressive vision loss, CT or MRI of the brain and orbits should be done to rule out compressive lesions.

For nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy, additional testing may be indicated based on the suspected cause or risk factor. For example, if patients have excessive daytime sleepiness or snoring or are obese, polysomnography should be considered to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea. If patients have vision loss on awakening, 24-hour blood pressure monitoring can be done.

Prognosis for Ischemic Optic Neuropathy

There is no effective treatment for the nonarteritic variety of optic nerve infarction; however, up to 40% of patients spontaneously recover some useful vision.

In the arteritic variety caused by giant cell arteritis, losses of visual acuity and visual field are typically greater. Prompt treatment does not restore lost vision in the affected eye but protects the unaffected eye. Inadequate treatment risks relapses and additional vision loss.

Treatment of Ischemic Optic Neuropathy

  • Corticosteroids and tocilizumab for the arteritic variety

The arteritic variety is treated with oral corticosteroids (prednisone 80 mg orally once a day and tapered based on erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein) to protect the other eye. If vision loss is imminent, intravenous corticosteroids should be considered. Treatment should not be delayed while awaiting the biopsy procedure or its results. Early results from clinical trials show that tocilizumab improves glucocorticoid-free remission when compared to corticosteroids only in giant cell arteritis (1 Treatment reference Ischemic optic neuropathy is infarction of the optic disk. It can be arteritic or nonarteritic. The only constant symptom is painless acute vision loss. Diagnosis is clinical. Treatment for... read more ). Treatment of the nonarteritic variety with aspirin or corticosteroids has not been helpful. Risk factors are controlled. Low-vision aids (eg, magnifiers, large-print devices, talking watches) may be helpful in both types.

Pearls & Pitfalls

  • Give systemic corticosteroids as soon as possible to patients 55 years and older who have sudden, painless loss of vision if giant cell arteritis is suspected.

Treatment reference

Key Points

  • Ischemic optic neuropathy is usually caused by atherosclerosis, but giant cell arteritis should always be ruled out.

  • Suspect ischemic optic neuropathy in patients 55 years and older who have sudden, painless loss of vision.

  • If giant cell arteritis is suspected, treat it with corticosteroids to decrease the risk of contralateral involvement.

  • Visual prognosis tends to be poor.

Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Drug Name Select Trade
Cordarone, Nexterone, Pacerone
Deltasone, Predone, RAYOS, Sterapred, Sterapred DS
Actemra
Anacin Adult Low Strength, Aspergum, Aspir-Low, Aspirtab , Aspir-Trin , Bayer Advanced Aspirin, Bayer Aspirin, Bayer Aspirin Extra Strength, Bayer Aspirin Plus, Bayer Aspirin Regimen, Bayer Children's Aspirin, Bayer Extra Strength, Bayer Extra Strength Plus, Bayer Genuine Aspirin, Bayer Low Dose Aspirin Regimen, Bayer Womens Aspirin , BeneHealth Aspirin, Bufferin, Bufferin Extra Strength, Bufferin Low Dose, DURLAZA, Easprin , Ecotrin, Ecotrin Low Strength, Genacote, Halfprin, MiniPrin, St. Joseph Adult Low Strength, St. Joseph Aspirin, VAZALORE, Zero Order Release Aspirin, ZORprin
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NOTE: This is the Professional Version. CONSUMERS: View Consumer Version
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