Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy is an acute optic nerve disease that seriously impairs the visual function of middle-aged and elderly people. It is generally believed to be caused by ischemia of the short ciliary artery supplying the optic disc plate area and the posterior area of the sieve plate. The disease is associated with a variety of factors, such as diabetes that affects the systemic microcirculation, hypertension and respiratory sleep apnea syndrome that has been widely studied recently, and so on. Moreover, it was also found that genetic susceptibility, drugs, surgery and ocular diseases were all associated with the occurrence and development of the NAION. In this paper, the latest researches on these factors are reviewed.