Demographics and etiologic characteristics of non-glaucomatous optic atrophy: a single-center cross-sectional study from Turkey

Abstract

Background Optic atrophy is an end-stage pathology of optic nerve diseases that is characterized by optic nerve pallor and vision loss. Because of its sight-threatening effects, understanding its epidemiology and etiology is crucial. In this study, we aimed to determine the epidemiologic features of optic nerve pathologies which lead to optic atrophy. Methods This is a cross-sectional study in which, medical records of optic atrophy patients who were followed up in our clinic between 1999 and 2020 were evaluated. Three hundred and sixty eyes of 226 patients were included in the study. Demographic data were received from the patients' files. Patients with glaucomatous optic atrophy, consecutive optic atrophy and patients with less than a year follow-up were excluded from the study. Results The most frequent reason of optic atrophy was central nervous system diseases (27.43%) followed by secondary non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (26.99%). The most frequent etiology of optic atrophy was non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy in males and central nerve system-related pathologies in females. The highest presentation age (mean 63.6 +/- 17.85 years) was observed in arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy and central nerve system-related optic atrophy had the lowest presentation age (median 14 years, IQR [34]). Conclusion Central nerve system diseases and non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathies were the most common causes of non-glaucomatous and non-consecutive optic atrophy in Turkey. Better understanding of underlying etiologies of optic atrophy may lead us to take precautions timely for irreversible optic nerve dysfunction which is an important reason of blindness.