From the Guidelines
Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) typically causes sudden, painless vision loss in one eye, with common symptoms including decreased visual acuity, visual field defects, reduced color vision, and an afferent pupillary defect. The vision symptoms of AION can vary, but often include:
- Decreased visual acuity, which can range from mild to severe
- Visual field defects, particularly in the lower or upper half of vision
- Reduced color vision
- An afferent pupillary defect, where the affected pupil doesn't constrict normally to light
- Blurry vision upon waking or a dark shadow covering part of their vision, as noted in patients with AION 1. It's essential to seek immediate medical attention if you experience sudden vision changes, as prompt diagnosis is crucial for preventing further vision loss. The treatment for AION depends on the type, with arteritic AION requiring urgent treatment with high-dose corticosteroids to prevent vision loss in the other eye, and non-arteritic AION focusing on managing underlying vascular risk factors like hypertension, diabetes, and sleep apnea 1.
From the Research
Vision Symptoms of Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (AION)
- The provided studies do not directly discuss the vision symptoms of Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (AION) 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- However, it is known that AION can cause sudden vision loss, typically in one eye, due to the ischemia of the optic nerve head.
- The vision symptoms of AION may include:
- Sudden loss of vision
- Blurred vision
- Blind spots
- Loss of peripheral vision
- Pain or discomfort in the affected eye
- It is essential to note that AION is a medical emergency, and prompt treatment is necessary to prevent permanent vision loss.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the vision symptoms of AION and to develop effective treatment strategies 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.