Clinical, demographic characteristics, and treatment protocols of optic neuropathies: Three-year follow-up experiences from a tertiary hospital  in Turkey

Burcu Taskiran Kandeger; Ozlem Tok; Levent Tok

doi:10.18502/cjn.v21i3.11110

Burcu Taskiran Kandeger Department of Ophthalmology, Konya City Hospital, Konya, Turkey
Ozlem Tok Department of Ophthalmology, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey
Levent Tok Department of Ophthalmology, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/cjn.v21i3.11110

Keywords: Optic Nerve Diseases; Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy; Optic Neuritis; Optic Nerve Injuries

Abstract

Background: This study was conducted to review the demographic and clinical characteristics, treatment protocols, and visual outcomes of patients with optic neuropathy.

Methods: This historical cohort study analyzed the clinical features of 91 patients with optic neuropathy followed up for three years at a university hospital in Turkey.

Results: Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NA-AION) was the most common group among the optic neuropathy subgroups (47.2%), and optic neuritis (ON) was the second most common group (38.5%). The mean age of symptom onset for NA-AION was 64.97 ± 12.15 years, significantly higher than the mean age of onset for ON (40.28 ± 15.52 years). Most of the patients with NA-AION had at least one systemic disease causing microangiopathy [51.1% had diabetes mellitus (DM), 33.3% had hypertension (HTN)]. Among the patients with ON, 51.4% were idiopathic, and 25.7% were multiple sclerosis (MS)-related ON cases. Patients with ischemic optic neuropathy (ION), ON, and traumatic optic neuropathy received pulse intravenous (IV) corticosteroids, and eleven patients with NA-AION received acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) therapy in addition to corticosteroids. There was a statistically significant increase in visual acuity in NA-AION and ON groups (P = 0.019). It was observed that the cases of ON peaked in the winter months in Turkey.

Conclusion: In the differential diagnosis between NA-AION and idiopathic ON, the presence of one or more vascular systemic diseases and mean age may be the main factors. IV steroid treatment given to patients with NA-AION in the acute phase may significantly improve visual acuity.