Suspended

Monitoring Vision and Health Outcomes in Non-Arteritic Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Patients

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What is being collected

Data Collection

Who is being recruted

Cardiovascular Diseases+4

+ Cranial Nerve Diseases

+ Eye Diseases

Over 50 Years
See all eligibility criteria
How is the trial designed

Observational
Study Start: October 1994
See protocol details

Summary

Principal SponsorNational Eye Institute (NEI)
Last updated: January 27, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Study start date: October 1, 1994

Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.

Non-Arteritic Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION) is a common condition that causes sudden vision loss in older adults, with no known effective treatment. It can affect both eyes in up to 40% of patients, with a significant risk within the first two years. The Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Decompression Trial (IONDT) aimed to compare the effectiveness of optic nerve decompression surgery (ONDS) with careful observation alone in patients newly diagnosed with NAION. The surgery was believed to restore vision by reducing pressure on the optic nerve. However, the study found that surgery was not better than careful observation and could potentially be harmful. This led to the abandonment of this costly and ineffective surgery for NAION treatment, leaving a lack of treatment options for the condition.

Official TitleIschemic Optic Neuropathy Decompression Trial Followup (IONDT Followup)
Principal SponsorNational Eye Institute (NEI)
Last updated: January 27, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Protocol

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

Eligibility

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Conditions
Criteria

Any sex

Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.

Over 50 Years

Range of ages for which participants are eligible to join.

Healthy volunteers not allowed

If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.

Conditions

Pathology

Cardiovascular DiseasesCranial Nerve DiseasesEye DiseasesNervous System DiseasesOptic Nerve DiseasesVascular DiseasesOptic Neuropathy, Ischemic

Criteria

All living patients from the 420 patients originally enrolled in the IONDT have been asked to participate in the IONDT Followup Study. No new patients are being recruited.

Study Centers

These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.

This study has 24 locations

Suspended

Doheny Eye Institute, University of Southern California

Los Angeles, United StatesOpen Doheny Eye Institute, University of Southern California in Google Maps
Suspended

Jules Stein Eye Institute

Los Angeles, United States
Suspended

Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco

San Francisco, United States
Suspended

Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida

Gainesville, United States
Suspended24 Study Centers