PURPOSE:

To determine the incidence of optic nerve damage due to nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) in the adult Chinese population.

METHODS:

The Beijing Eye Study, a population-based, longitudinal study which included 4439 subjects (age 40+ years) in 2006, was repeated in 2006. In the follow-up examination, 3169 (71.4%) subjects participated. Optic disc photographs were assessed. Diagnostic criteria for incident NAION were a small optic disc, segmental pallor, and loss of retinal nerve fiber layer and visual field in the follow-up examination, with a normal optic nerve head appearance at baseline.

RESULTS:

New NAION was found in one eye, with an incidence rate of 0.03+/-0.03% per 5 years (mean +/- standard error) (95% confidence interval: -0.03, 0.09), or about 1:16,000 subjects per year.

CONCLUSIONS:

Within a 5-year period, new NAION may develop in 1 out of 3200 adult Chinese, or 1:16,000 adult Chinese per year.