·AIM:To investigate the correlation between anterior ischemic optic neuropathy(AION)and carotid artery stenosis.METHODS:All of 56 inpatients 62 eyes from Jan.2007 to Oct.2010 were retrospectively analyzed.The visual acuity,ocular fundus,visual field,fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA),CT and carotid color Doppler flow imaging(CDFI)were checked to explore the correlation between AION and carotid artery stenosis.RESULTS:All patients were diagnosed with AION.Among 56 patients,36 patients(64%)were with high blood pressure;29 patients(52%)were with diabetics;23 patients(41%)were with hyperlipemia;30 patients(54%)were with carotid artery stenosis for atherosclerosis.CONCLUSION:There is strong correlation between carotid artery stenosis and AION.It is necessary to examine carotid atrery stenosis with carotid CDFI for patients with AION.