title: Laser speckle flowgraphy for differentiating between nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy and anterior optic neuritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG) for the differentiation of acute nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) from anterior optic neuritis (ON).
  
  
  METHODS
  To investigate blood flow in the optic disc under normal conditions, NAION, and anterior ON, we compared the tissue blood flow of the right eye with that of the left eye in the control group, and that of the affected eye with that of the unaffected eye in the NAION and anterior ON groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the normal control group, the tissue blood flow did not significantly differ between the right and left eyes. In the NAION group, all 6 patients had decreased optic disc blood flow in the NAION eye when compared with the unaffected eye. By contrast, in the anterior ON group, all 6 patients had increased optic disc blood flow in the anterior ON eye when compared with the unaffected eye. In the NAION group, the mean blur rate (MBR) of the affected eyes was 29.5 % lower than that of the unaffected eyes. In the anterior ON group, the MBR of the affected eyes was 15.9 % higher than that of the unaffected eyes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LSFG could be useful in differentiating between NAION and anterior ON. In addition, this imaging technique saves time and is noninvasive.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara Kiyotake, Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maekubo
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chuman
authors.forename: Nobuhisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nao-I
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018917:Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology*