Optic disc of non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy

Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is most common disc swelling disorder in Korea.

NAION is resulted from vascular insufficiency of optic disc, especially circle of Zinn-Haller. The vascular insufficiency induces the optic disc swelling with splinter hemorrhage.

Figure 1. The optic disc of NAION. Diffuse optic disc swelling is detected and hemorrhage is shown in infero-temporal area.
















NAION is usually associated with optic disc hemorrhage ( about 70%), so the  hemorrhage is one of the key features in NAION and it is a very helpful to diagnose NAION.

When it comes to optic disc swelling, we should also consider optic neuritis. Although the patients with optic neuritis have pain on ocular movement (up to 90%). patients with NAION usually did not complain ocular pain. In my opinion, some patients with NAION  complained of dull pain around affected eye.

I think that optic disc margin of NAION is more irregular than that of ON. Also, some cases of NAION were shown sectorial disc swelling. However, total blurred disc swelling is more common in the acute stage.

Figure 2. Inferior sectorial disc swelling with hemorrhage is shown.