Abstract: Objective  To survey the distribution pattern and subject domain knowledge of worldwide anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) researches based on literatures in Pubmed database. Design Biblionmetric analysis. Participants Literatures on AION published in 1994 to 2013 were identified in Pubmed database. Methods Literatures on AION published in 1994 to 2013 were identified in Pubmed database. The analytic items of an article include published year, country language and journal. After core mesh terms had been characterrized by Bibliographic item co-ocurrence matrix builder(BICOMS), the co-occurrence matrix was built. Cluster analysis was finished by SPSS20.0. Then visualized network was drawn using Ucinet 6.0. Main Outcome Measures Cluster analysis, social network analysis and the visualized knowledge mapping based on high-frequency subjects.  Results Totally 1599 literatures were included, the number of annual articles changed slightly between 1994 and 2013. The United States, England, Germany and France together accounted for 77% of articles. There were 55 high-frequency subjects and hot topics were cluster into the following 11 categories: (1) AION caused of aged, risk factors and visual disorders, as well as blindness. (2) Diagnosis of AION visual disorder and optic neoropathy, as well as differential. (3) Pathology and physiopathology of AION, visual disorder, nerve and disk, as well as disease models. (4) Examination of visual acuity. visual fields, fundus oculi and intraocular pressure. (5) Complications of AION and giant cell arteritis. (6) Drug therapy of AION and giant cell arteritis, as well as AION prevention and contral. (7) Chemically induced of AION and adverse effects of phosphodiesterase inhibiters includs of piperazines, purines and sulfones. (8) Methods of nerve system examinations including fluorescein angiography, megnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography. (9) Methods of restrspective and prospectives studies. (10) Metabolism and blood supply of AION optic nerve, as well as the physiology of visual acuity and visual fields. (11) Surgery and other postoperative complications of AION. The visualized domain knowledge mapping was successful built. The etiology and risk factors in the core domain, which have an important link to diagnosis and therapy. The researches on AION gene, drug therapy were not developed well, which was of great promotion space. Conclusions The distribution pattern and subject domain knowledge of worldwide AION researches in the recent twenty years were shown by using bibliometric analysis. Western developed countries play a leading role in the field of AION research, which needs to be strengthened in China.

Key words: anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, bibliometrics, community networks, cluster analysis