Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of ai-weizhi on anterior ischmic optic neuropathy (AION). Methods In 58 patients (60 eyes) who were diagnosed as with AION, 29 patients (30 eyes) underwent intravenous drip with ai-weizhi (1200 mg/d) (treatment group), and the other 29 patients (30 eyes) underwent intravenous drip with 1-2 kinds of thrombolytic coagulant or vasodilator (once per day) (control group) with the period of treatment of 15 days. In the control group, ocular local injection, including gluco-corticosteroid and 654-2 behind or beside the eyeball injected once per day or every 2 days for 3-5 times, was perfomed on 20 eyes simultaneously. The changes of visual acuity and ocular fundus of the patients after injection were recorded, and the visual field was counterchecked in the patients who had underwent the examination before the treatment. Results The visual acuity was better in treatment group than which in control group with a significant difference (t=2.74, Plt;0.01). The visual acuity in treatment group didnprime;t differ much from which in the control group 3 days after treatment (t=1.34, P＞0.05). At the 5th、10th and 15th day after treatment, the visual acuity was better in treatment group than which in control group with a significant difference(t=2.01, Plt;0.05; t=2.07, Plt;0.05；t=2.74, Plt;0.01). In 15 eyes in control group which had undergone examination of visual field, the visual field improved in 13 (87.00%) and of remained still in 2 (13.00%). In 13 eyes in treatment group which had undergone examination of visual field, the visual field improved in 4 (31.00%) and remained still in 9 (69.00%). There was a significant difference between the two groups (chi;2=9.66, Plt;0.01). Conclusion Ai-weizhi is efficacious in treatment of AION. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2006, 22: 97-99)