Unilateral anterior ischemic optic neuropathy caused by Takayasu's arteritis

Takayasu's disease is an arteritis with a predilection for the proximal bra nches of the aortic arch. Chronic retinal hypoxic changes and ischemic ocul ar inflammation, resulting from cervical vascular occlusion, have been exte nsively described. Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy has rarely been repor ted in this condition, and only in conjunction with other ophthalmic findin gs. The authors present the case of a 25-year-old woman who developed unila teral anterior ischemic optic neuropathy in the absence of other eye findin gs and was subsequently found to have an aortic arch syndrome compatible wi th Takyasu's disease.