Posterior ischaemic optic neuropathy due to internal carotid artery occlusion

Exploring the contribution of carotid artery disease to the onset of non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathies: A systematic review

PURPOSE

The role of carotid artery disease (CAD) in the development of various types of ocular arterial occlusive disorders has often been reported. This systematic review aims to evaluate and review the current evidence regarding the role of CAD and the subsequent carotid artery hemodynamic alterations in the development of non-arteritic anterior (NA-AION) and posterior (NA-PION) ischemic optic neuropathy.

METHODS

We systematically reviewed studies following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases for relevant studies that clearly assessed the role of CAD and the subsequent carotid artery hemodynamic alterations in the development of NA-AION and NA-PION. All studies that examined the associations between CAD and the development of NA-AION and NA-PION in adults aged 18 years or older were synthesized. Quality assessment using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS), and Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist for Case Reports and Case-Series were also conducted.

RESULTS

Our search identified 1933 manuscripts published in the English language. The number of participants with non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NA-ION) ranged from 1 to 191, with a total of 478 patients experiencing either NA-AION (410 out of 478), NA-PION (13 out of 478), or a combination of thereof (1 out of 478). The number of participants with NA-ION due to atherosclerosis ranged from 1 to 191, with a total of 376 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Although carotid artery disease may rarely contribute to the development of NA-ION, it should be considered as a possible cause of NA-ION.

Post-operative bilateral vision loss

A 41-year-old man presented with acute bilateral loss of vision upon awakening after elective surgery. After thorough evaluation it was determined that he had suffered bilateral posterior ischemic optic neuropathies secondary to hypotension while under general anesthesia. One eye showed significant improvement over the next 4 weeks, whereas the other remained unchanged.

Acute unilateral visual loss in the elderly due to retrobulbar optic neuropathy

A 61-year-old man developed fever and a urinary tract infection followed five days later by acute visual loss in the right eye. Funduscopic examination was normal. A retrobulbar optic neuropathy was diagnosed but careful consideration was given to choroidal ischemia as an etiology. A sphenoidal mucocele was found on emergent MRI scan and drained expeditiously, with marked improvement in visual function. The diagnosis of giant cell arteritis should always be entertained when dealing with visual loss in the elderly.