Retrobulbar haemodynamics and carotid wall thickness in patients with non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy.
OBJECTIVE
To compare retrobulbar haemodynamics and ipsilateral carotid wall thickness of patients with unilateral non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION) with their contralateral side.


METHODS
Seventeen patients with unilateral NAION participated in this study. By means of Colour Doppler imaging, the blood-flow velocities of the ophthalmic artery were measured. Intima-media thickness (IMT) of common carotid and internal carotid arteries were measured using B-mode ultrasonography. Measurements of the affected side were compared with the non-involved side.


RESULTS
Flow velocities in the ophthalmic arteries on the side of the eyes with NAION were significantly decreased compared with those on the side of the unaffected eyes (p<0.001). In addition, in all patients, both common and internal carotid artery IMT were significantly greater on the side of the NAION compared with the contralateral side (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
NAION may be associated with decreased retrobulbar flow velocities and increased carotid wall thickness.
Sanjari
M Soltan
MS
Eye Research Center, Rassoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Falavarjani
K Ghasemi
KG
Mehrabani
M
M
Ghiasian
L
L
Zamani
B
B
D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018917:Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial / Q000379:methods