title: Bilateral arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) is a disease of the optic nerve head seen in patients over the age of 50 and more commonly over the age of 70. With few exceptions, arteritic AION is caused by giant cell arteritis. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment with corticosteroids are essential for preventing potentially devastating visual loss from this disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 63-year-old white man presented with the complaints of blurred vision of the right eye and visual field loss of the left eye. Ocular examination found bilateral swollen optic nerve heads. Visual field testing showed altitudinal defects in each eye. Laboratory testing was significant for elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. The patient was treated with oral prednisone for arteritic AION and referred to a rheumatologist. At follow-up, the patient's ESR and CRP levels showed significant improvement. The optic nerve head of the left eye showed a reduction in swelling, and the visual field finding was stable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Arteritic AION is an ocular emergency. Optometrists need to be able to recognize and diagnose this condition quickly to initiate critical corticosteroid treatment.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Southern Nevada Healthcare System, Las Vegas, Nevada 89036, USA. michelle.matson3@va.gov
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matson
authors.forename: Lane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D018917:Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity