rss
Br J Ophthalmol 2009;93:638-640 doi:10.1136/bjo.2008.144832
  • Clinical science
    • Original Article

Retrobulbar haemodynamics and carotid wall thickness in patients with non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy

  1. M Soltan Sanjari1,
  2. K Ghasemi Falavarjani1,
  3. M Mehrabani2,
  4. L Ghiasian3,
  5. B Zamani2
  1. 1
    Eye Research Center and Eye Department, Rassoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2
    Department of Neurology, Rassoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3
    Eye Research Center, Rassoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  1. Dr K Ghasemi Falavarjani, Eye Research Center, Rassoul Akram Hospital, Sattarkhan-Niayesh Street, Tehran 14455-364, Iran; drghasemi{at}yahoo.com
  • Accepted 5 December 2008
  • Published Online First 19 December 2008

Abstract

Aim: To compare retrobulbar haemodynamics and ipsilateral carotid wall thickness of patients with unilateral non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION) with their contralateral side.

Methods: Seventeen patients with unilateral NAION participated in this study. By means of Colour Doppler imaging, the blood-flow velocities of the ophthalmic artery were measured. Intima-media thickness (IMT) of common carotid and internal carotid arteries were measured using B-mode ultrasonography. Measurements of the affected side were compared with the non-involved side.

Results: Flow velocities in the ophthalmic arteries on the side of the eyes with NAION were significantly decreased compared with those on the side of the unaffected eyes (p<0.001). In addition, in all patients, both common and internal carotid artery IMT were significantly greater on the side of the NAION compared with the contralateral side (p<0.001).

Conclusion: NAION may be associated with decreased retrobulbar flow velocities and increased carotid wall thickness.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

  • Ethics approval: Ethics approval was provided by the Institutional Review Board of the Eye Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences.

  • Patient consent: Obtained.

This Article

  1. Abstract
  2. Full text
  3. PDF
  4. All versions of this article:
    1. bjo.2008.144832v1
    2. bjo.2008.144832v2
    3. 93/5/638 most recent

Responses

  1. Submit a response
  2. No responses published

Register for free content

The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.