An Angiographic Study of the Course of the Ophthalmic Artery in Normal and Pathological Conditions

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Abstract
In recent years attention has been paid to the angiographic image of the intra-orbital blood vessels. Rapid serial angiography has been of great help in their study and the introduction of a strong concentrated contrast medium, such as Urografin 60%, was of importance. Nevertheless the interpretation of the radiograph remains difficult because of osseous structures, superimposed on the contrast-filled vessels. In our opinion, the technique of subtraction (Ziedses des Plantes, 1961) is the method of choice. The ophthalmic artery originates on the medial side of the internal carotid artery, close to the anterior clinoid process, somewhat laterally under the optic nerve and runs through the optic canal towards the orbit. Here it bends from the lateral side of the optic nerve either above or underneath it. In this region two branches emerge: (a) the lacrymal artery, which runs between the superior and the lateral rectus muscle towards the lateral upper part of the orbit and terminates in two branches, posterior and anterior to the lacrymal gland. This also yields branches to supply the optic nerve sheath, the external and superior rectus muscle, the anterior ciliary arteries, and an anastomose with the middle meningeal artery. (b) The central retinal artery which runs laterally along the optic nerve, bending to its inferior part and penetrating into the sheath of the optic nerve, 10–12 mm behind the ocular globe.

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