Structural factors in the pathogenesis of ischemic optic neuropathy.
Some patients with nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy have no signs or symptoms of systemic vascular disease; therefore, nonvascular factors may play a role in the pathogenesis of this syndrome. We observed that the average cup-disk ratio of the unaffected optic disks in a group of patients with ischemic optic neuropathy was significantly (P = .005) smaller than the average ratio in a group of age-matched controls (0.36 +/- 0.19 vs 0.21 +/- 0.16). Fourteen of 30 patients but only two of 29 controls had cup-disk ratios equal to or less than 0.1. Mechanical factors, such as constriction of axons as they traverse the scleral canal, may contribute to the pathogenesis of ischemic optic neuropathy.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*