Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Central retinal vein
Introduction
The central retinal vein (retinal vein) is a short vein that runs through the optic nerve and drains blood from the capillaries of the retina into the larger veins outside the eye. The anatomy of the veins of the orbit of the eye varies between individuals, and in some the central retinal vein drains into the superior ophthalmic vein, and in some it drains directly into the cavernous sinus.[1] [2]
Pathology
Pathology
The central retinal vein is the venous equivalent of the central retinal artery, and like that blood vessel can suffer from occlusion (central retinal vein occlusion), similar to that seen in ocular ischemic syndrome. Since the central retinal artery and vein are the sole source of blood supply and drainage for the retina, such occlusion can lead to severe damage to the retina and blindness.
References
References
- ↑ Venous Anatomy of the Orbit Cheung and McNab. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. 2003;44:988-995
- ↑ MeSH entry for central retinal vein – National Library of Medicine – Medical Subject Headings – 2007
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]