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Cohort studyClinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2026

Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Comparative Study.

Pareena Chaitanuwong, Atitaya Piankaew

OphthalmologyCohort study

NAION cases during COVID-19 had worse visual acuity at three months than before pandemic.

Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Comparative Study.

Pareena Chaitanuwong, Atitaya Piankaew

Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2026

Purpose

This study compared the incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of NAION diagnosed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

A retrospective review was conducted of new NAION cases at a tertiary neuro-ophthalmology clinic diagnosed between May 2017-May 2019 (Pre-COVID) and March 2020-March 2022 (During-COVID).

n = 46

logMAR 1.34 vs 0.72

Results

logMAR 1.34 vs 0.72

at 3 months, eyesight was worse (blurrier) after covid-era cases than before

n = 46

More results

The relative frequency of NAION increased during the pandemic (3.7% vs 2.6%).

More results

Patients in the During-COVID group had significantly higher rates of hypertension (84.2% vs 40.7%, p=0.003), atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (15.8% vs 0%, p=0.033), suspected sleep apnea (36.8% vs 0%, p=0.001), obesity (21.1% vs 0%, p=0.013), and smoking history (42.1% vs 3.7%, p=0.001).

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

During the COVID-19 period, NAION was proportionally more frequent and associated with increased vascular comorbidities, delayed presentation, and worse visual outcomes.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Both direct viral and indirect pandemic-related factors may contribute.

Post

Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Comparative Study.

NAION cases during COVID-19 had worse visual acuity at three months than before pandemic.

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