What is anterior ischemic optic neuropathy?

What is anterior ischemic optic neuropathy?

Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) is a sudden loss of vision due to an interruption of blood flow to the front (anterior) of the optic nerve, also known as the optic nerve head.

The optic nerve’s job is to carry visual information from the eye to the brain, which assembles this information into images. About 1.2 million tiny fibers in the optic nerve rely on oxygen and nutrients supplied by surrounding blood vessels. Any interruption in blood supply can damage vision. The more the optic nerve is damaged, the greater the vision loss.