Alterations in retinal and choroidal thickness following nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy

Purpose To show alterations of retinal arteriolar caliber (RAC), retinal venular caliber (RVC), retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT), peripapillary choroidal thickness (ppCT), and central macular thickness (CMT) in acute and chronic phases of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Methods Forty-one eyes of 41 patients with NAION were included in this retrospective study. RAC, RVC, RNFLT, ppCT, and CMT measurements were performed via spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in the acute and chronic phases of NAION. Results RVC, RNFLT, ppCT, and CMT were significantly thinner in the chronic phase compared to the acute phase (p < 0.001), whereas RAC remained similar throughout the visits (p = 0.26). The visual acuity difference between the acute and chronic phases was not correlated with the changes of RAC, RVC, RNFLT, ppCT, or CMT. Conclusions RVC, RNFLT, ppCT, and CMT decreases in the chronic phase when compared to the acute phase of NAION, whereas RAC does not change significantly.

Automated summary

In patients with NAION, retinal venular caliber, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, peripapillary choroidal thickness, and central macular thickness decrease significantly in the chronic phase compared to the acute phase, while retinal arteriolar caliber remains unchanged.