Vitreopapillary Traction in Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy

Purpose: To describe the association between vitreous traction on the optic disc andnonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).Methods: Eighty three eyes of 83 patients with NAION were evaluated by opticalcoherence tomography (OCT) for detecting vitreous adhesion to the optic nerve headwith separation from the adjacent retina (partial posterior vitreous detachment). Eyeswhich were negative for such adhesion underwent ultrasonography to detect completeposterior vitreous detachment (PVD).Results: Fifty male and 33 female subjects with mean age of 51.9±10 years were studied.Partial PVD with optic nerve head adhesion was found in 54 patients (65.1%) usingOCT. Ultrasonography detected complete PVD in all other eyes with optically emptyspaces on OCT.Conclusion: Vitreous traction on the optic nerve head from partial PVD may play acausative role in some cases of NAION. This traction may impair vascular supplyand/or axoplasmic flow leading to signs and symptoms of NAION.