Non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NA-AION): outcome for visual acuity and visual field defects, the...

We report the six months follow-up findings in relation to visual acuity and visual field defects in a series of Singaporean patients with non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy seen in the neuro-ophthalmology service of the Singapore National Eye Centre. 90% of the patients were Chinese, and the most common vascular risk factor was hypertension. Visual acuity was normal at the outset in 40% of cases and unchanged in 85%, and the assessment of visual acuity alone was not found to be a satisfactory method to determine prognosis. Visual field defects were found in all the affected patients, the most common being in the inferior fields. After six months, visual field defects were found to be unchanged in 77% of cases, improved in 15.5% and worse in 7.5%. Overall visual function (visual acuity plus visual field) was unchanged in 81% of cases, and no patient had complete recovery.