[Comparison of ophthalmic artery velocity in eyes with NAION and normal fellow eyes]

To compare ophthalmic artery velocity in eyes with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy [NAION] with that of normal fellow eyes. In this case-control study, 20 patients with unilateral NAION and disease onset less than 8 weeks, were enrolled. Using color Doppler imaging, mean, maximum systolic and end diastolic ophthalmic artery velocities were evaluated. The results were compared between the fellow eyes. Twelve men and 8 women with a mean age of 54.6 +/- 11.8 years were included. Mean interval between disease onset and velocity measurements was 27.5 +/- 12.8 days. Mean [18.5 +/- 0.8 vs 19.9 +/- 2.8], maximum systolic [37.9 +/- 4.09 vs 39.7 +/- 3.1] and end diastolic [10.3 +/- 2.1 vs 12.3 +/- 2.5] ophthalmic artery velocities in NAION eyes were significantly less than that of the normal fellow eyes [P=0.01, P=0.001 and P<0.001, respectively]. No significant difference was found in subgroup analysis of patients with and without diabetes, and with and without systemic hypertension. NAION seems to be associated with changes in ophthalmic artery velocity