Optic Nerve Head Elastometry in Both Eyes of Patients with Unilateral Non-arteritic Anterior Ischaemic Optic Neuropathy – May It Be a Novel Aspect of the Pathogenesis?

Abstract

In this prospective study, the biomechanical properties of optic nerve head (ONH) and cornea in both eyes of patients with non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy and healthy control eyes were investigated. ONH elastometry was measured with real-time elastography, and corneal elastometry was measured with ocular response analyser. Elastometry of cornea and ONH was lower in both eyes of patients with unilateral non-arteritic ischaemic optic neuropathy than in healthy control eyes. The role of these biomechanical differences in the pathogenesis of non-arteritic ischaemic optic neuropathy should be investigated further.

Optic Nerve Head Elasticity and Corneal Biomechanics in Patients with Optical Disc Drusen and Optic Disc Edema

“…On the other hand, a recent study investigated the relationship between the cornea and the optic nerve in terms of biomechanical properties using USE, found a positive correlation between corneal rigidity and optic nerve rigidity in patients with NAION [13]. In the light of these results, we wanted to investigate the corneal biomechanics (by evaluating CH, CRF, IOPcc and IOPG values) in our study groups and their relationship with optic nerve elasticity.…”

“…In a clinical study, Unal et al investigated the effects of ocular rigidity changes on optic nerve in patients with POAG using USE method and found a stiffer ONH in eyes with POAG when compared with non-glaucomatous control eyes [12]. Then, the evaluation of the ONH by using USE became more common and has been applied in some other optic nerve related diseases such as multiple sclerosis [10], Behçet's disease [11], non-arterial anterior ischemic optic neuropathy [13], and optic neuritis [14]. In all these diseases, the elastography ndings of the ONH were signi cantly different from the healthy volunteers.…”

“…Other than these mostly used imaging techniques, in recent years, elestography has been introduced in ophthalmology as a new sonographic technique and started to use in the evaluation of orbital diseases. Up to date, studies have investigated its effectiveness in the evaluation of ONH in patients with multiple sclerosis, Behcet's disease, primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION) and optic neuritis [10][11][12][13][14]. However, no study has evaluated its usefulness in ODD or in the differential diagnosis of ODD with other conditions such as ODE yet.…”

“…On the other hand, evaluation of corneal biomechanics and its association with other parts of the eye has begun to give signi cant outcomes. Association of corneal biomechanics with the ONH biomechanics has also been investigated recently using ultrasound elastography (USE) in patients with NAION and a positive correlation was found between corneal rigidity and optic nerve rigidity [13].…”