[Effect of neurogenic optic atrophy on papillary blood flow]

Anterior optic nerve blood flow was measured in 9 patients with unilateral neurogenic optic atrophy. The noninvasive techniques of reflectometry and laser Doppler detected a decrease in capillary blood flow of the affected eyes as compared with the control fellow eyes as compared with the control fellow eyes (p less than 0.002) that averaged about 64% +/- 14%. There was a good correlation between the decrease in blood flow and the clinical severity of disease (p = 0.92, p less than 0.002). These noninvasive techniques provide a sensitive, safe, and accurate evaluation of the anterior optic nerve that is useful in both clinical research and patient care.