Anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy. A correlative clinical and visual evoked potential study of 18 patients.

The clinical and visual evoked potential (VEP) findings were analysed in 18 patients with anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy. The VEP studies showed a variety of abnormalities which could be interpreted as being the result of subcomponent interaction consequent upon loss or attenuation of the normal macular-derived P100 component. Delay of normal VEP subcomponents was not seen. The VEP findings were non-specific but pointed to a severe disturbance of transmission in optic nerve fibres subserving central vision. No significant changes were observed with time in most cases indicating a static monophasic process with no significant recovery.