Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy is a stroke of the optic nerve or an eye stroke. According to the "Handbook of Ocular Disease Management," this type of stroke generally occurs in one eye at a time. The two types of anterior ischemic optic neuropathy are arteritic and non-arteritic. Arteritic causes more visual loss, but non-arteritic is more common. Doctors have few effective treatments for eye strokes.
Painless Vision Loss
Patients who have an eye stroke may notice a painless loss of vision over a few days, according to the "Handbook of Ocular Disease Management." The amount of vision loss is associated with the amount of optic nerve that the stroke affects.
Visual Field Loss
Patients with eye stroke develop visual field loss. The physician will be able to determine the location of the visual field loss during examination and additional testing, according to the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society. After visual field loss, patients may have difficulties with distances and depth perception, according to Drs. Richard and Laura Windsor in an article in the "Vision Enhancement Journal."
Loss of Constrast Sensitivity
Patients who suffer an eye stroke often lose the ability to determine the subtle differences between colors, according to the Windsors. Increased lighting may improve contrast sensitivity in these patients.
Loss of Light Senstivity
Another symptom of an eye stroke is the loss of light sensitivity, which is related to the loss of visual contrast. These patients have problems with glare from the sun or from lights. Many patients often need a specific type of shaded lenses like an amber lenses according to the Windsors. This type of lens may improve problems with glare.
References
- "Vision Enhancement Journal"; Understanding AION: Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy; Richard L. Windsor, O.D., F.A.A.O. Laura K. Windsor, O.D., F.A.A.O.
- Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (AION)
- Handbook of Ocular Disease Management:Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (AION)
- CalEyes.com: Acute Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (AION)
