AIM: To investigate the relationship between the anterior ischemic optic neuropathy(AION)and the carotid artery change using doppler ultrasound.

METHODS:Fifty-four cases of AION patients and 54 cases of healthy control were observed, atherosclerotic spots were detected by the application of color ultrasound.

RESULTS:In AION group of 54 patients, 38 cases appeared carotid atherosclerosis, accounting for 70%. The number of cases with hard plaque, soft plaque and mixed plaques were 18, 13, and 7 respectively, accounting for 33%, 24% and 13%. In the control group, 20 cases were detected atherosclerotic change, accounting for 37%. And the number of cases with hard plaque, soft plaque and mixed plaques were 12, 5 and 3 respectively, accounting for 22%, 9%, 6%. Significant stenosis and velocity change were showed in neither AION group nor control group. Compared with the control group, AION group had more cases of atherosclerotic plaque, the difference was statistically significant(χ²=12.836, P=0.005)

CONCLUSION: The incidence of AION is correlated with carotid atherosclerosis, and carotid ultrasonography is significantly valuable for AION etiology and diagnosis.