Objective To observe the efficiency and security of enhanced external counter pulsation (EECP) as an adjunctive therapy for nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Methods This was a retrospective casecontrol study. Forty-eight patients (48 eyes) with NAION were enrolled in this study. Thirty-two patients (32 eyes) who had been treated with blood vessel dilation and nerve nutrition drugs comprised the medicated group. Sixteen of the patients (16 eyes) in the medicated group were treated with EECP combined with blood vessel dilating and nerve nutrition drugs as EECP group. The differences were not statistically significant between groups in gender(chi;2=0.000), age (t=1.096), course (t=1.613) and visual acuity (chi;2=0.000,P＞0.05). EECP was done once a day, one hour per time, five times a week. Fourteen eyes were treated 12 times EECP and two eyes were treated 36 times EECP within the EECP group. Systemic and ocular side effects were observed during EECP treatment. Corrected visual acuity was examined after treatment and the differences of visual acuity between medicated group and EECP group treated six times and or 12 times with EECP treatment were analyzed. The correlation of visual acuity level, and course, and acuity before treatment were analyzed. A significant improvement in visual acuity was defined as a sustained improvement of three or more visual acuity gradations. An effective of treatment was defined as a sustained improvement of two or less visual acuity gradations. No effective of treatment was defined as visual acuity dropped or showed no progress. Results After six treatments of EECP, within the 16 eyes of EECP group, two eyes achieved significant improvement, five eyes had effective improvement, and nine eyes did not show any improvement. Within the 32 eyes of medicated group, three eyes achieved significant improvement, eight eyes had effective improvement, and 21 eyes did not show any improvement. There was no statistically significant difference in vision between the two groups (chi;2=0.404,P＞0.05). After 12 treatments of EECP, within the 16 eyes of EECP group, six eyes achieved significant improvement, nine eyes had effective improvement, and one eye did not show any improvement. Within the 32 eyes of medicated group, four eyes achieved significant improvement, 10 eyes had effective improvement, and 28 eyes did not show any improvement. The difference was statistically significant comparing the vision level between the two groups (chi;2=11.621,P＜0.05）. The curative effect of patients negatively correlated with course of the disease (r=-0.860，P＜0.05), but positively correlated with visual acuity before treatment (r=1.380,P＜0.05). Skin bruises, hematoma, new retinal bleeding and other side effects did not occur in patients during EECP treatment. Conclusions Many time therapy of EECP can improve vision of NAION patients. There is no local and general complications after a certain number of therapy.
Objective To observe the effect of lowering intraocular pressure(IOP) treatment on ocular hemodynamics in patients with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Methods A total of 68 patients with NAION (68 eyes) were enrolled in this study. The patients were randomly divided into treatment group (38 eyes of 38 patients) and control group (30 eyes of 30 patients). All the patients were received methylprednisolone pulse therapy (200 mg, three days), vasodilator therapy with intravenous infusion of Xueshuantong solution (300 mg), optic nerve nutritional therapy with mouse nerve growth factor (30 mu;g) and acupoint injection in temporal with compound anisodine (2 ml). The total course was 10 days. The patients of treatment group received IOP lowering treatment to reduce the IOP to ge;8 mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa) or in a 30% reduction. The patients of control group received no IOP lowering treatment. The peak systolic velocity (PSV), pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) of ophthalmic artery (OA), central retinal artery (CRA) and short posterior ciliary arteries (PCA) before and after treatment were comparatively analyzed by color doppler flow imaging. Results The differences of PSV (t=1.023, 1.145, 0.569), PI (t=0.679, 0.956, 1.634) and RI (t=0.816, 1.657, 0.998) of OA, CRA and PCA before treatment in treatment group and control group were not statistically significant (P＞0.05). Compared with before treatment, PSV (t=3.150, 7.650, 3.520) and PI (t=2.420, 5.430, 7.650) of OA, CRA and PCA increased obviously (P＜0.05), RI of OA, CRA and PCA decreased obviously (t=5.320, 9.640, 18.360;P＜0.05) after treatment in treatment group. In control group, the differences of PSV (t=2.090, -2.550, -2.100) and PI (t=-2.310, -2.230, -4.490) of OA, CRA and PCA between before and after treatment were not statistically significant (P＞0.05); but the differences of RI of OA, CRA and PCA between before and after treatment was statistically significant (t=2.970, 2.160, 2.690;P＜0.05). Compared with control group, PSV (t=2.632, 2.135, 5.364) and PI (t=3.251, 2.432, 4.243) of OA, CRA and PCA increased obviously (P＜0.05), RI of OA, CRA and PCA decreased obviously (t=3.664, 2.938, 4.324;P＜0.05) after treatment in treatment group. Conclusion Lowering intraocular pressure treatment can improve the ocular hemodynamics in NAION patients.
Objective To learn the hotspots of study in ischemic optic neuropathy (ION). Methods Literature on ION published in January 2000 to July 2012 was identified in Pubmed database. MeSH terms that frequently appeared were identified and co-word analysis was carried out by cluster analysis. Then a network was drawn using social network analysis. Results A total of 1045 papers were included. The United States, England, Germany, France and Netherlands together accounted for 71.53% (748) of the articles. There were 28 high-frequency MeSH terms and hot topics clustered into four fields. The appearance frequency of MeSH showed that most research focused on: (1)postoperative or arteritic ION; (2)epidemiology, pathology and diagnosis of ION; (3)pathophysiology and therapy of ION; (4) chemically induced ION. Conclusion The international main research focus of ION includes four fields, which may provide reference or scholars both in scientific research and clinical research.
Non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is a neurological disease due to poor perfusion in optic disk. It causes severe visual function impairment, characterized by loss of vision and visual field defect. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is vital for detecting anterior laminar depth, peripapillary nerve fiber layer thickness, ganglion cell complex thickness and peripapillary choroid thickness change in eyes with NAION at different course of the disease. In addition, OCT features are in accordance with visual function impairment. OCT angiography (OCTA) reveals retinal and choroidal vasculature networks in optic and macular area. OCTA revealed vasculature perfusion decline in eyes with NAION, even if their visual sensitivity and visual evoked potential were normal. Studying OCT and OCTA features is vital for exploring the pathogenesis and prognosis of NAION.
ObjectiveTo observe the changes in subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) and peripapillary choroidal thickness (pCT) in nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).MethodsNineteen newly occurred NAION patients were included. The patients were divided into group A (20 affected eyes of 19 patients) and B (18 fellow eyes of 18 patients). Twenty eyes of 20 age, gender, intraocular pressure and axial length-matched healthy volunteers (group C) were enrolled in this study. The differences of age (t=1.58), gender ratios (χ2=0.107), intraocular pressure (t=0.092) and axial length (t=0.148) between 3 groups were not significant (P＞0.05). SFCT, pCT were measured at first visit, 1 month and 3 months after treatment using enhanced deep imaging technique of spectral domain optical coherence tomography. The correlation of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and the choroidal thickness was investigated.ResultsAt the first visit, the mean SFCT and pCT in group A were significant thicker than group C (t=2.957, 2.844; P=0.006, 0.009). There was no difference of SFCT and pCT between group B and C (t=2.019, 2.024; P=0.053, 0.057). There was no correlation between BCVA and SFCT, pCT (F=0.161, 0.033; P=0.695, 0.859). One month after treatment, SFCT in group A was still thicker than group C (t=2.803, P=0.009); while pCT was decreased in group A when compared to group C, but the difference was not significant (t=1.871, P=0.084). Three months after treatment, the differences of SFCT and pCT were not significant between group A and C (t=1.223, 1.105; P=0.236, 0.282).ConclusionsAt first visit, SFCT and pCT in NAION eyes showed a significant increase when compared to normal eyes. One month later, pCT in NAION eyes decreased to normal. Three months later, both SFCT and pCT decreased. These findings may suggest that a thickened choroid is a clinical characteristic at acute stage in NAION eyes.
ObjectiveTo observe the blood perfusion of optic nerve and macular areas and investigate its relationship with visual field defect in nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).MethodsTwelve consecutive unilateral NAION patients (course of disease ＜3 months) and 12 healthy Chinese adults were enrolled in the study. The affected eyes and fellow eyes from 12 NAION patients were defined as group A and group B; 12 eyes from 12 healthy adults were defined as group C. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), indirect ophthalmoscope and computer optometry were performed on all of the three groups of patients. Visual field (VF) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed on NAION patients. Logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) was used to calculate visual acuity. Compared to group B, logMAR BCVA, mean deviation (MD) and pattern standard deviation (PSD) in group A were significant decreased (t=3.278, −4.909, 4.130, P＜0.05). There was no significant difference in spherical equivalent, IOP, peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (pRNFL) between group A and group B (t=0.000, 0.890, 1.215; P＞0.05). OCT angiography (OCTA) was used to measure the flow area (FA) at optic disc, flow area at radial peripapillary capillaries (RCFA) and FA, non-perfusion area (NFA), parafoveal vessel density (PVD) and parafoveal vascular index (PVI) in macular area. Pearson correlations between the deficiency of optic blood flow and visual field were analyzed.ResultsThe differences of FA at optic disc and peripapillary RCFA among 3 groups were significant (F=4.162, 3.357; P＜0.050). Compared to group B (t=−5.822, −7.467; P＜0.001) and C (t=9.435, 4.615, P＜0.05), FA at optic disc and peripapillary RCFA in group A was significantly reduced. There is several NAION showed quadrantal FA decreased in optic nerve. However, there was no significant difference in optic disc FA and peripapillar RCFA between group B and C (F=0.004, 0.030; P＞0.050). There was no differences of FA, NFA, PVD and PVI among 3 groups (F=0.488, 1.107, 0.493, 1.086, 1.098, 0.093, 1.093, 1.221; P＞0.05). Positive correlation between optic disc FA, peripapillary RCFA and MD (r=0.542, 0.585; P＜0.05) were observed. However, there was no significant correlation between optic disc FA, peripapillary RCFA and PSD (r=−0.404, −0.430; P＞0.05), and negatively correlated to BCVA (r=−0.617, −0.596; P＜0.05). PRNFL was negatively correlated to optic disc FA (r=−0.643, P＜0.05), but not correlated to peripapillary RCFA (r=−0.377, P＞0.05).ConclusionsThe optic disc blood flow reduced in affected eyes of unilateral NAION whose disease course was less than 3 months, while the macular perfusion was normal. There was a positive correlation between optic disc flow and visual field.
Objective To observe the characteristics of multifocal microperimetry and its relationship with visual acuity and multifocal ganglion cell complex (GCC) in nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Methods A retrospective case study. A total of 38 patients (54 eyes) with NAION were enrolled in this study. 25 NAION eyes (25 patients) and 29 contralateral health eyes (29 patients) were randomly selected into case group and control group respectively. All eyes underwent best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit lamp microscope, indirect ophthalmoscope, color fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), visual field and multifocal microperimetry. Logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) was used to calculate BCVA. There were no significantly differences on age (t=−0.647), gender, dominant eyes ( χ2=0.128, 0.099), intraocular pressure (t=0.376) between two groups (P>0.05). Macular GCC thickness, superior and inferior GCC thickness were measured by OCT, focal loss volume (FLV) and global loss volume (GLV) were obtained at the same time. Microperimetry were measured by macular integrity assessment instrument (MAIA microperimetry), and mean retinal sensitivities (MS) in macular area 10° and fixation rate in the macular central 2° and 4° were determined. The relationship between MS, macular GCC and BCVA were analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis. Results The mean logMAR BCVA of case group and control group were 0.68±0.79 and 0.07±0.06, respectively. There was significantly statistical difference in MS between two groups (t=−2.507, P=0.037). There were no significantly statistical difference in mean GCC (t=−1.245, P=0.259), superior and inferior GCC (t=−1.336, −1.024; P=0.230, 0.346), FLV (t=1.058, P=0.331) and GLV (P=0.182) between two groups. The correlation between BCVA and MS (r=−0.809, P=−0.005) was observed. However, there were no correlation between BCVA and GCC, superior and inferior GCC, FLV, GLV (r=−0.98, −0.466, −0.061, 0.442, 0.442; P=0.817, −0.244, 0.885, 0.273, 0.273). And also, there were no correlation between MS and GCC, superior and inferior GCC, FLV, GLV (r=0.238, 0.524, 0.286, 0.643, −0.619; P=0.570, 0.183, 0.493, 0.086, 0.102). Conclusions MS reduced in early stage NAION eyes, which did not correlate with macular GCC.
Objective To establish and evaluate a rat model of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Methods The rats were randomly divided into control group (n=13), sham laser group (n=11) and NAION group (n=23). The right eye was set as the experimental eye. NAION model was induced by directly illuminating the optic nerve (ON) of the right eye with 532 nm green laser, after intravenous infusion with the photosensitizing agent Rose Bengal. Sham laser treatment consisted of illuminating the ON region with 532 nm laser without Rose Bengal injection. Rats in control group underwent no intervention. The appearance of optic disc was observed with funduscope at 12 hours, 1, 3, 7, 28 days post-illumination. The histologic changes in the retina and ON of the NAION model were evaluated qualitatively with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and transmission electron microscopy. The retrograde-labeled retinal ganglion cells (RGC) were counted on photographs taken from retinal flat mounts in a masked fashion. Results The optic disc in NAION eyes were swollen 3 days after photodynamic treatment. HE-stained longitudinal ON sections of NAION revealed vacuolar degeneration on day 3 after induction. Besides, ultrastructural study showed axonal edema and collapsed sheaths in the ischemic optic nerve at the same time point after modeling. ON edema resolved 7 days after induction. The final results revealed optic disc atrophy, extensive axonal loss, severe glial scar, and RGC death in large numbers 4 weeks after modeling. There were no aforementioned manifestations in control and sham laser group. The RGC density of the right eyes was statistically significantly lower in NAION group than that in control group and in sham laser group (t=−14.142, −14.088; P=0.000, 0.000). The survival rate of RGC was statistically significantly lower in NAION group than in control group and in sham laser group (t=−17.048, −16.667; P=0.000, 0.000). There was no difference of RGC density and survival rate of RGC between control and sham laser group (t=0.050, 0.348; P=0.961, 0.731). Conclusion A rat model of NAION was established successfully by photodynamic treatments with Rose Bengal, which induce optic nerve damage and RGC death.
ObjectiveTo observe the blood perfusion changes of peripapillary and macular vessels in patients with nonarteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION).MethodsRetrospective cohort study. Thirty-six eyes (19 affected eyes and 17 fellow eyes) of 19 patients with NAION diagnosed in People’s Hospital of Wuhan University from November 2017 to January 2019 were included in this study. There were 10 males and 9 females, with the mean age of 55.05±7.11 years. Forty eyes of 20 normal subjects matched with NAION patients were included as controls. BCVA, fundus color photography, SD-OCT and OCT angiography were performed in normal controls and repeated in NAION affected eyes at 1-2 weeks, 1-2 months, 3-5 months intervals. OCT quantitative measurements: average retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (aRNFL) of the disc and its superior values (sRNFL) and the inferior values (iRNFL), average ganglion cell complex thickness (aGCC) in macular region and its superior values (sGCC) and the inferior values (iGCC). OCTA quantitative measurements: average radial peripapillary capillary density (aRPC) and its superior values (sRPC) and the inferior values (iRPC), average vascular density of superficial retina (aSVD) in macular region and its superior values (sSVD) and the inferior values (iSVD), average vascular density of deep layer retina (aDVD), areas of foveal avascular zone (FAZ). The differences of OCT and OCTA quantitative measurements between NAION eyes and the fellow eyes and normal controls were comparatively analyzed. Independent sample t test, paired sample t test or nonparametric rank sum test were performed for comparison among three groups. Pearson or Spearman correlation analysis were used to analyze the correlation between RNFL and RPC, GCC and SVD, RNFL and GCC, RPC and SVD.ResultsAt baseline, the aRNFL, aRPC and aDVD of NAION patients were significantly higher than those of normal controls. Compared with the fellow eyes, the aRNFL increased significantly and the aRPC decreased significantly in NAION affected eyes. The overall differences of aRNFL, aRPC, aGCC and aSVD at four intervals within NAION affected eyes were statistically significant (P＜0.05). The average sRNFL, sRPC, sGCC and sSVD at 1-2 months interval were significantly lower than the average iRNFL, iRPC, iGCC and iSVD (P＜0.05). Correlation analysis: at 1-2 months interval, aGCC was positively correlated with aSVD (r=0.482, P=0.037); at 3-5 months interval, aRNFL was positively correlated with aRPC (r=0.631, P=0.037).ConclusionThere is a sectorial reduction of vascular density of peripapillary RPC and macular SVD with the disease progression of NAION.