AIM: To explore the pathogenic factors and clinical relevance study of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy(NAION)in the population of high altitude regions.

METHODS: The patients who came to our ophthalmology clinic outpatient to see a doctor and diagnosed with NAION from March 2011 to September 2012 were included as case group. During the same period, persons who participated in medical examination in our outpatient department and whose age and gender matched with case group were regarded as the control group. 1)Registering personal information of each object included in detail. 2)Taking detailed ophthalmologic examinations to included objects. 3)For the included objects, blood pressure monitoring and laboratory tests including blood routine, serum lipid, blood glucose, hemorrheology and so on were taken. These observational indexes were detailed recorded.

RESULTS: 1)Between NAION group and control group, there were no significant differences among the total cholesterol, HDL lipoprotein and blood routine(P>0.05); however, as to the triglycerides, blood glucose, blood pressure had a significant difference(P<0.05), NAION group was higher than the control one. 2)To high shear viscosity of whole blood, plasma viscosity, shear between high and low reduction viscosity of whole blood, erythrocyte deformation index, ESR and KESR, there was no significant difference between two groups(P>0.05); low shear and shear between high and low viscosity of whole blood, HCT, high and low shear reduction viscosity of whole blood, erythrocyte aggregation index had a significant difference(P<0.05), NAION group was higher.

CONCLUSION: 1)The pathogenic factors of NAION in the population of high altitude regions are multiple factors instead of single one. 2)Under the environment conditions of high altitude, low atmospheric pressure and low oxygen, the onset of NAION is associated with a series of pathophysiologic changes in the microcirculation of human body. 3)It had statistical significances among triglycerides, blood pressure, blood glucose and the onset of NAION at high altitudes. 4)High blood viscosity is a risk factor of the onset of NAION at high altitudes. 5)It is time to strengthen health education of NAION among the population of high altitude regions and improve their awareness of prevention and cure of that.