Assessing the Vitreopapillary Interface in Acute Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy

Nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is the most common cause of acute optic neuropathy in adults over age 50. While NAION typically occurs in patients with risk factors for microvascular ischemia, some have suggested an important mechanistic role for vitreous traction on the optic nerve head (ONH). Parsa and Hoyt have proposed that NAION is a misnomer and purely a tractional phenomenon. To test this hypothesis, we retrospectively assessed the posterior vitreous face by optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients during the acute phase of NAION.