RESUMO
Fifty-four patients were studied. They were diagnosed as having AION in its either form. Forty-eight patients had non-arteritic AION. The mean +/- SD age of them was 60.5 +/- 9 years for males and 65 +/- 8.9 years for females. This study revealed that certain patients with systemic hypertension, diabetes mellitus or both as well as patients with previous cerebrovascular or cardiovascular events were at a higher risk of developing the non- arteritic form of the disease. Hypertension was encountered in 44%, diabetes mellitus in 27% and atherosclerosis in 16.6%. The other six patients were diagnosed as having arteritic form of the disease. Giant cell arteritis was incriminated in four patients, while systemic lupus was found in one patient and the last patient was suffering from pulseless disease