title: Optic disk excavation in nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.
abstract: Most ischemic optic neuropathies are attributed to interference of blood flow originating within the posterior ciliary circulation. In patients with the most common type of ischemic optic neuropathy, nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), the microvascular ischemia predominantly affects the intraocular portion of the optic nerve. NAION most commonly occurs in eyes with small, "crowded" optic disks and usually does not result in optic disk excavation. We report a patient who presented with NAION and subsequently developed optic disc excavation typical of glaucomatous optic neuropathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Omar S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Punjabi
authors.forename: Angelo P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Tanna
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001167:Arteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D001766:Blindness / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology*; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D018917:Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D014792:Visual Acuity; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields