To explore the potential of lipid-derived indices as systemic biomarkers associated with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).
Key Findings:
Traditional lipid parameters were largely normal in both groups, but triglycerides were higher and HDL-C lower in the NAION group.
Both the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and triglyceride–glucose (TyG) index were significantly elevated in NAION patients compared to controls.
TyG remained significantly higher even after adjusting for fasting blood sugar.
Neither AIP nor TyG correlated with functional or structural severity measures of NAION.
Interpretation:
The findings suggest that systemic metabolic vulnerability may be measurable in NAION patients, indicating a background metabolic milieu that predisposes to ischemic events rather than reflecting acute injury severity.
Limitations:
The study is retrospective, single-center, and relatively small.
Exclusion of patients with known hyperlipidemia may limit generalizability.
Conclusion:
NAION may be as much a systemic metabolic disease as a local optic nerve event, warranting further prospective studies to assess the predictive value of these indices.
