PAIN IN ANTERIOR ISCHEMIC OPTIC NEUROPATHY

The diagnoses of both anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) and op tic neuritis are clinical ones with significant overlap of symptoms an d signs. This study investigates the presence and character of pain at the onset of AION, in order to evaluate this symptom as a differentia ting diagnostic feature between optic neuritis and AION. Methods: Fort y-one consecutive patients over 45 years of age with a clinical syndro me consistent with AION were questioned about the presence and charact er of associated pain. Results: Pain was reported by 12% (5 of 41) of the patients with AION. This is contrasted with data compiled on 448 p atients enrolled in the optic neuritis treatment trial, of whom 92.2% complained of pain. Conclusion: While there is overlap in the incidenc e and character of pain in AION and optic neuritis, its presence/absen ce remains a useful differentiating feature.