To compare the fluorescein angiographic findings of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NA-AION) and optic neuritis.

The present study included 41 patients (41 eyes), who were diagnosed with NA-AION or optic neuritis and underwent fluorescein angiography in our clinic. The clinical profiles of patients, characteristics of optic disc head and hemorrhage, and visual field findings were analyzed retrospectively. The onset and filling time, perfusion time of retinal artery, optic disc, and peripapillary choroid were evaluated quantitatively.

Patients with NA-AION showed statistically significant delay in both the onset time, filling time and perfusion time of the optic disc and peripapillary choroid compared with patients with optic neuritis ( p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the dye leakage of the peripapillary areas between the 2 groups ( p = 0.324).

In the present study, the results of fluorescein filling were significantly different between the NA-AION group and the optic neuritis group. The results may help determine the therapeutic plan and to differentiate between the 2 disease entities, especially in cases of overlapping clinical features.