Risk factors of anterior ischemic optic neuropathy among a sample of patients in Erbil City

Background and objectives: Although a lot of studies suggested the predisposition of many risk factors, non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy was considered for a long time to be idiopathic. This study aimed to assess the relationship between different factors and anterior ischemic optic neuropathy among a sample of patients in Erbil city. Methods: A case-control study was conducted in Erbil city, Iraq from 2008 to 2011. A total of 36 cases of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy and 36 controls with other visual problems were included. Results: Eight percent of patients in this study had one or more risk factors (P = 0.001), in particular hypertension and diabetes were shown to have a significant relationship (P = 0.046 and 0.001, respectively). The absence of physiological cup over the optic disc has crucial importance both independently (P = 0.001) and in association with diabetes (P = 0.001). Old age and male gender were significant factors in relation to co-morbidities (P = 0.001 and 0.038, respectively). Conclusion: The study had concluded that hypertension, diabetes, age, male gender and absent physiological cup over the optic disc were important risk factors for anterior ischemic optic neuropathy