Carotid disease and retinal optical coherence tomography angiography parameters in patients with non-arteritic...

In order to analyze the data and retinal microvasculature for non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), patients were referred to have carotid Doppler ultrasound (CDU) from 2016 to 2020.

In this case-control observational study, 30 NAION patients were evaluated with CDU. Twenty-two NAION patients (at least 3 months after the onset of symptoms) and 9 normal subjects underwent a complete ophthalmic examination including optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). NAION eyes and fellow eyes were further divided into two groups based on the presence of carotid stenosis (CS). NAION patients with CS were termed "CS-NAION"; and those without CS were termed "NCS-NAION." Measurements of radial peripapillary capillary vessel density (RPC VD), ganglion cell complex (GCC), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thicknesses were compared among groups.

Fourteen of 30 NAION patients referred to have carotid Doppler were positive for CS with each one of such referrals having less than 50% stenosis. RNLF, GCC and RPC VDs were reduced in NAION patients' eyes, when compared to controls and the fellow eyes. RPC VD was significantly lower in the temporal-superior (P = 0.037) and the superior-temporal (P = 0.012) sectors of the NCS-NAION patients than in the CS-NAION patients. No significant differences were found between CS-fellow eyes and NCS-fellow eyes in terms of RPC VDs, RNLF or GCC.

Results of the study highlight the effect of the carotid artery stenosis on ocular perfusion pressure in the pathogenesis of NAION. More extensive studies are necessary.