Ischemic optic neuropathy
Encyclopedia
Ischemic optic neuropathy (ION) is the loss of structure and function of a portion of the optic nerve
due to obstruction of blood flow to the nerve (i.e. ischemia
). ION is typically classified as either anterior ischemic optic neuropathy
or posterior ischemic optic neuropathy
according to the part of the optic nerve that is affected.
Optic nerve
The optic nerve, also called cranial nerve 2, transmits visual information from the retina to the brain. Derived from the embryonic retinal ganglion cell, a diverticulum located in the diencephalon, the optic nerve doesn't regenerate after transection.-Anatomy:The optic nerve is the second of...
due to obstruction of blood flow to the nerve (i.e. ischemia
Ischemia
In medicine, ischemia is a restriction in blood supply, generally due to factors in the blood vessels, with resultant damage or dysfunction of tissue. It may also be spelled ischaemia or ischæmia...
). ION is typically classified as either anterior ischemic optic neuropathy
Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy
Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy is a medical condition involving loss of vision due to damage to the optic nerve from insufficient blood supply. AION is generally divided into two types: arteritic AION and non-arteritic AION...
or posterior ischemic optic neuropathy
Posterior ischemic optic neuropathy
Posterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy is a medical condition characterized by damage to the retrobulbar portion of the optic nerve due to ischemia, a restriction of the blood supply to the optic nerve...
according to the part of the optic nerve that is affected.