Abstract:  Objective To investigate the relationship between parameters of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and the impairment of vision in patients with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Design Retrospective case series. Participants sixty-three cases (41 males and 22 females) who were diagnosed as NAION were involved. Method All patients were divided into low visual group and better visual group according to the visual impairment; and divided into double eyes group and single eye group according to the affected eye in the current. General condition, biochemical indexes and parameters of ambulatory blood pressure were compared between the two groups respectively. Main Outcome Measures The age, gender, body mass index (BMI), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), the parameters and incidence of abnormal circadian rhythm of ambulatory blood pressure. Results The diastolic blood pressure at night in double eyes group (78.5±11.3 mm Hg) was significantly higher than in single eye group(72.2±10.8 mm Hg) (P=0.044). The age in low visual group (57.1±10.3 years) was significantly older than in better visual group (47.6±9.7 years) (P=0.001). The incidence of normal circadian rhythm of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure was significantly lower in low visual group (11.4%) than in better visual group(36.8%) (P=0.018). Conclusion In terms of NAION, the patients with onset older and abnormal circadian rhythm of ambulatory blood pressure more likely to suffer poor visual acuity.

Key words:  ischemic optic neuropathy, ambulatory blood pressure, impairment of vision