vitreopapillary traction in non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy

purpose: to describe the association between optic disc traction and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (naion). methods: eighty three eyes of 83 patients with naion were evaluated by optical coherence tomography (oct) for detecting vitreous adhesion to the optic nerve head with separation from adjacent retina (partial posterior vitreous detachment). those who were negative for such adhesion underwent ultrasonography to detect complete pvd. results: fifty male and 33 female subjects with mean age of 51.9 ± 10 yr were studied. partial pvd with optic nerve head adhesion was found in 54 patients (65.1%) using oct. ultrasonography found complete pvd in all eyes with optically empty spaces in oct. conclusion: vitreous traction on optic nerve head from pvd may play a causative role in some cases of naion. this traction may impair vascular supply and axoplasmic flow leading to signs and symptoms of naion.