Vascular implications of optic atrophy.

Optic atrophy can often be a result of arterial blood flow insufficiency associated with systemic vascular disease (cardiovascular disease, hypertension, or diabetes mellitus). The lack of adequate blood perfusion pressure can create conditions leading to anoxia and death of the nerve fiber layer with a resultant visual field defect. A case of a 63-year-old white male is presented with optic atrophy resulting from anterior ischemic optic neuropathy 5 years earlier. A review of the literature concerning the more common causes of ocular vascular insufficiency (i.e., anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, internal carotid disease, central retinal artery occlusion, and branch retinal artery occlusion) as well as diagnostic testing and therapeutic management is discussed.