What is the Definition of Ischemic Optic Neuropathy?
Optic neuropathy describes abnormalities of the optic nerve that occur as a result of ischemia, toxins, vascular and blood pressure abnormalities, and compression within the orbit. Ischemic disorders are termed “arteritic” when they occur secondary to inflammations of blood vessels, chiefly giant cell arteritis (temporal arteritis). They are termed nonarteritic when they are secondary to occlusive disease or other noninflammatory disorders of blood vessels. Optic neuropathy is divided into anterior, which causes a pale edema of the optic disk, and posterior, in which the optic disk is not swollen and the abnormality occurs between the globe and the optic chiasm.
