Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy with Cilioretinal artery occlusion: a case report

Ya-Yun Yang,Ming-Shan He

doi:10.1186/s12886-019-1243-6

Abstract

BackgroundTo describe a peculiar case of concurrent non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) and cilioretinal arteries occlusion (CLRAO) without other causative agents which responded well to intravenous and intravitreal injection of corticosteroids.Case presentationA 41-year-old woman presented with painless vision loss in the right eye for 1 week. Fundus examinations showed marked disc swelling, flame-shaped hemorrhage over the superior nerve fiber area, and well-demarcated retinal ischemia superior to the fovea in the right eye. Under the impression of NAION with branch retinal artery occlusion, the patient was treated with intravenous and intravitreal injection of corticosteroids. Two months later, as the disc swelling and retinal ischemia resolved, we found that the occluded artery was the cilioretinal artery and not the ordinary branch retinal artery.ConclusionsCLRAO may be concomitant with the setting of NAION, the physicians should be aware that CLRAO may be misinterpreted as BRAO owing to profound disc edema during the early stages of the disease.

Highlights

To describe a peculiar case of concurrent non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) and cilioretinal arteries occlusion (CLRAO) without other causative agents which responded well to intravenous and intravitreal injection of corticosteroids.Case presentation: A 41-year-old woman presented with painless vision loss in the right eye for 1 week
CLRAO may be concomitant with the setting of NAION, the physicians should be aware that CLRAO may be misinterpreted as Branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) owing to profound disc edema during the early stages of the disease
Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is due to acute ischemia of the optic nerve head (ONH), whose main supply of blood is from the circulation of the posterior ciliary arteries (PCA)

Summary

Conclusions

CLRAO may be concomitant with the setting of NAION, the physicians should be aware that CLRAO may be misinterpreted as BRAO owing to profound disc edema during the early stages of the disease.

Background

Findings

Discussion and conclusion