Retrobulbar and common carotid artery haemodynamics and carotid wall thickness in patients with non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy

To evaluate retrobulbar and common carotid artery (CCA) haemodynamics and CCA wall thickness in the patients with acute unilateral non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION) by colour Doppler imaging (CDI). Twenty-two patients with acute unilateral NAION and 28 age- and sex-matched controls were included in this prospective study. By CDI, the peak-systolic velocity (PSV) and end-diastolic velocity (EDV) of the ophthalmic artery (OA) and central retinal artery (CRA) in both eyes were measured or calculated. Intima-media thickness (IMT) and blood flow velocity were measured in both CCAs. Measurements on the affected side of the patients were compared to the contralateral healthy side and the controls. Compared to the controls, the blood flow velocities in the CRA were significantly decreased (p