A Sudden Decline in Visual Acuity Revealing AION During Pregnancy

Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is the second most common optic neuropathy after glaucoma. We report a 32-week pregnant woman with type 1 diabetes who developed sudden, painless vision loss in the left eye upon awakening. Examination revealed optic disc edema with cilioretinal artery occlusion, and OCT confirmed intraretinal edema. Arteritic causes were excluded, but hypotensive episodes were identified. Supportive management with hydration, lateral positioning, and antiplatelet therapy led to partial visual recovery and reperfusion, though optic disc pallor and early neovascularization persisted. This case highlights the role of pregnancy-related hypotension and diabetes in NAION pathogenesis.