ObjectiveTo observe and analyze the changes and correlation of macular mean sensitivity (MS) and the thickness of ganglionic plexiform layer (GCIPL) in patients with non-arteriotic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). MethodsA cross-sectional clinical study. From March to August 2023, 37 patients with 38 eyes of NAION (NAION group) diagnosed by ophthalmic examination in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were included in the study. In the NAION group, 29 patients with contralateral healthy eyes were selected as the contralateral healthy eye group. A total of 31 eyes of 16 healthy subjects matching gender and age were selected as the normal control group. NAION group was divided into acute stage group (disease course ≤3 weeks), subacute stage group (disease course 4-12 weeks) and chronic stage group (disease course＞12 weeks), with 16, 10 and 12 eyes, respectively. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), optical coherence tomography (OCT), perimetry, and microperimetry were performed. BCVA statistics are converted to logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR). The macular region was scanned by Cirrus HD-OCT macular volume 512×128 scanning program. The mean (GCIPLav), minimum (GCIPLmin), and the GCIPL thickness at supranasal, superior, subnasal, supratemporal, inferior, and inferotemporal quadrants were detected. The Humphrey 24-2 automated visual field test was utilized to measure the mean defect (MD) of the visual field. MP-3 microperimetry was used to measure MS (total MS) in the 10° macular region and MS in the supranasal, superior, subnasal, supratemporal, inferior, and inferotemporal quadrants. MS＞21 dB was defined as normal. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare among groups. t test was used to compare GCIPL thickness between MS≤21 dB and＞21 dB regions. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between GCIPL thickness and MS in corresponding areas. ResultsThere were statistically significant differences in logMAR BCVA and MS in the NAION group, contralateral healthy eye group, and normal control group (F=13.595, 83.741; P＜0.05). GCIPL thickness in the MS≤21 dB region was significantly lower than that in the＞21 dB region in the NAION group (t=2.634, P=0.009). The thickness of GCIPL in the inferotemporal quadrant decreased in the NAION group compared with the contralateral healthy eye group and normal control group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.092, 0.192). The thickness differences of GCIPLav and GCIPLmin and GCIPL in other quadrants were statistically significant (P＜0.05). Compared with the contralateral healthy eye group and normal control group, the thickness of GCIPLmin, superior and supratemporal of GCIPL in the acute stage group were significantly decreased (P＜0.05). The thickness of GCIPLav, GCIPLmin, GCIPL in upranasal, superior and supratemporal quadrants were significantly decreased in the subacute stage group (P＜0.05). The thickness of GCIPLav, GCIPLmin and GCIPL in all quadrants were significantly decreased in the chronic stage group (P＜0.05). Correlation analysis showed that total MS were significantly correlated with logMAR BCVA (r=0.779, －0.596, P＜0.001) in NAION group. The inferior GCIPL thickness was significantly correlated with MS in the corresponding region (r=0.410, P=0.046), while no correlation was found in the other quadrants (r=0.220, 0.148, －0.131, 0.296, 0.321; P＞0.05) in NAION group. GCIPL thickness in acute and subacute groups was significantly correlated with MS (r=0.329, 0.400; P=0.007, 0.028). There was no correlation in the chronic phase group (r=0.238, P=0.103). ConclusionsGCIPL atrophy and thinning and MS decrease in the macular area of NAION. The thickness of GCIPL in the MS decreasing region is significantly lower than that in the MS normal region. GCIPL atrophy and thinning in acute and subacute stages are correlated with MS.