July 16, 2012 This is an ischemic myocardial of the optic nerve in the lamina cribrosa.
It typically affects people older than 60 years with vascular disease (atherosclerosis, temporal arteritis).
Retro bulbar or rear ischemic optic neuropathy is much rarer than the front.
Prognosis for vision is poor. Usually after the withdrawal of disc edema, an optical atrophy follows. After several weeks or years, in thirty percent of patients the other optic nerve becomes affected too.
Symptoms:
It is manifested by a sudden unilateral loss of visual acuity, disturbances in the visual field (usually lower part), and afferent pupillary defect. Edema and bleeding in one part of the optical disk can be seen on the eye background.
Treatment:
No treatment can change the outcome. Low doses of acetyl salicylic acid (100 mg daily) reduces the risk of the disease in the other eye in the first five years, then the risk is the same as without this preventive therapy.