Walsh & Hoyt: Ischemic Optic Neuropathy in Settings of Hemodynamic Compromise

Systemic hypotension, blood loss, and anemia may produce optic nerve ischemia. The most commonly reported causes of blood loss associated with ION are (a) spontaneous gastrointestinal or uterine bleeding and (b) surgically induced hemorrhage, related most frequently to cardiac bypass or lumbar spine procedures. Less often, hypotensive episodes in the setting of chronic anemia without blood loss (as inchron ic hemodialysis) may result in ION