24 Hour Blood Pressure Monitoring in Patients with Non-arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy

Temporary severe hypoperfusion of the optic nerve head with subsequent ischemia is believed to be the pathogenic mechanism in non-arteritic AION. Patients often report their visual loss upon awakening. It has thus been proposed that nocturnal hypotension may be a pathogenic factor both in normotensive and hypertensive patients with non-arteritic AION. A critical decrease of mean blood pressure during the night could render perfusion pressure .in the capillaries of the optic nerve head too low to maintain proper oxygenation of the axons.