Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Inter-individual variation in blood supply of the optic nerve head

Its importance in various ischemic disorders of the optic nerve head, and glaucoma, low-tension glaucoma and allied disorders

  • Published:
Documenta Ophthalmologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

There is no one standard pattern of the blood supply of the optic nerve head in all human eyes. There is a marked inter-individual variation in the blood supply of the optic nerve head, and the various factors which produce this include variations in (I) the anatomical pattern of blood supply, (II) the pattern of posterior ciliary artery (PCA) circulation (the main source of blood supply to the optic nerve head), and (III) the blood flow. The variations in the pattern of PCA circulation include the variations in (a) number of PCAs supplying an eye, (b) area of supply to the optic nerve head by each PCA, (c) location of the watershed zones between the various PCAs in relation to the optic nerve head, and (d) blood pressure in various PCAs as well as short PCAs. The variations in the blood flow in the optic nerve head can be produced by changes in (i) the intraocular pressure, (ii) mean blood pressure in the capillaries of the optic nerve head and (iii) peripheral vascular resistance. These variations are discussed in detail. A lack of appreciation of these complexities of the blood supply of the optic nerve head in health and disease is responsible for many of the current problems in the understanding of the role of vascular disturbances in anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, glaucoma, low-tension glaucoma and various ischemic disorders of the optic nerve head.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Anderson DR (1977) Is ischemia the villain in glaucomatous cupping and atrophy? In: Brockhurst RJ, Boruchoff SA, Hutchinson BT, Lessell S (eds): Controversy in Ophthalmology. Philadelphia, Saunders, pp 312–319

    Google Scholar 

  2. Anderson DR and Davis B (1974) Retina and optic nerve after posterior ciliary artery occlusion: An experimental study in squirrel monkeys. Arch Ophthal 92: 422–426

    Google Scholar 

  3. Araki M (1976) The role of blood circulation of prelaminar capillaries in producing glaucomatous cupping. Acta Soc Ophthal Jap 80(4):201–207

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ellenberger C (1979) Ischemic optic neuropathy as a possible early complication of vascular hypertension. Amer J Ophthal 88:1045–1051

    Google Scholar 

  5. Ernest JT and Archer D (1973) Fluorescein angiography of the optic disk. Amer J Ophthal 75:973–978

    Google Scholar 

  6. Geijer C and Bill A (1979) Effects of raised intraocular pressure on retinal, prelaminar, laminar and retrolaminar optic nerve blood flow in monkeys. Invest Ophthal Vis Sci 18:1030–1042

    Google Scholar 

  7. Hayreh SS (1962) The ophthalmic artery III. Branches. Brit J Ophthal 46:212–247

    Google Scholar 

  8. Hayreh SS (1974) Anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy. I. Terminology and pathogenesis. Brit J Ophthal 58:955–963

    Google Scholar 

  9. Hayreh SS (1975) Segmental nature of the choroidal vasculature. Brit J Ophthal 59:631–648

    Google Scholar 

  10. Hayreh SS (1978) Structure and blood supply of the optic nerve. In: Heilmann K, Richardson KT, (eds): Glaucoma: Conceptions of a disease. Stuttgart, Thieme, pp. 78–96

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hayreh SS (1978) Pathogenesis of optic nerve damage and visual field defects. In Heilmann K, Richardson KT, (eds): Glaucoma: Conceptions of a disease. Stuttgart, Thieme, pp. 104–137.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hayreh SS (1980) Pathogenesis of optic nerve damage and visual field defects in glaucoma. Docum Ophthal Proc Ser 22:89–110

    Google Scholar 

  13. Hayreh SS (1981) Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. Arch Neurol 38:675–678

    Google Scholar 

  14. Hayreh SS (1983) Physiological anatomy of the choroidal vascular bed. Intern Ophthal 6:85–93

    Google Scholar 

  15. Hayreh SS (1983) Effects of elevated intraocular pressure on blood flow. Arch Ophthal 101:1948–1949

    Google Scholar 

  16. Hayreh SS and Baines JAB (1972) Occlusion of the posterior ciliary artery I. Effects on choroidal circulation. Brit J Ophthal 56:719–735

    Google Scholar 

  17. Hayreh SS and Baines JAB (1972) Occlusion of the posterior ciliary artery III. Effects on the optic nerve head. Brit J Ophthal 56:754–764

    Google Scholar 

  18. Hayreh SS and Chopdar A (1982) Occlusion of the posterior ciliary artery V. Protective influence of simultaneous vortex vein occlusion. Arch Ophthal 100: 1481–1491

    Google Scholar 

  19. Hayreh SS, Servais G, Virdi PS, Swaner J and Marcus M (1984) Fundus lesions in malignant hypertension. (In preparation)

  20. Hinzpeter EN and Naumann G (1976) Ischemic papilledema in giant-cell arteritis. Arch Ophthal 94:624–628

    Google Scholar 

  21. Leighton DA and Phillips CI (1972) Systemic blood pressure in open-angle glaucoma, low-tension glaucoma, and the normal eye. Brit J Ophthal 56:447–453

    Google Scholar 

  22. Lieberman MF, Maumenee AE and Green WR (1975) Histologic studies of the vasculature of the anterior optic nerve. Amer J Ophthal 82:405–423

    Google Scholar 

  23. Loebl M and Schwartz B (1977) Fluorescein angiographic defects of the optic disc in ocular hypertension. Arch Ophthal 95:1980–1984

    Google Scholar 

  24. Maumenee AE (1977) The pathogenesis of visual field loss in glaucoma. In Brockhurst RJ, Boruchoff SA, Hutchinson BT, Lessell S (eds): Controversy in Ophthalmology. Philadelphia, Saunders, pp 301–311

    Google Scholar 

  25. Maumenee AE (1983) Causes of optic nerve damage in glaucoma. Ophthalmology 90:741–752

    Google Scholar 

  26. Minckler DS, Bunt AH and Johanson GW (1977) Orthograde and retrograde axoplasmic transport during acute ocular hypertension in the monkey. Invest Ophthal Vis Sci 16:426–441

    Google Scholar 

  27. Minckler DS and Spaeth GL (1981) Optic nerve damage in glaucoma. Surv Ophthal 26:128–148

    Google Scholar 

  28. Quigley HA and Addicks EM (1980) Chronic experimental glaucoma in primates II. Effect of extended intraocular pressure elevation on optic nerve head and axonal transport. Invest Ophthal Vis Sci 19:137–152

    Google Scholar 

  29. Quigley HA, Addicks EM, Green WR and Maumenee AE (1981) Optic nerve damage in human glaucoma II. The site of injury and susceptilibity to damage. Arch Ophthal 99:635–649

    Google Scholar 

  30. Quigley HA, Flower RW, Addicks EM and McLeod DS (1980) The mechanism of optic nerve damage in experimental acute intraocular pressure elevation. Invest Ophthal Vis Sci 19:505–517

    Google Scholar 

  31. Schwartz B and Kern J (1980) Age, increased ocular and blood pressures, and retinal and disc fluorescein angiogram. Arch Ophthal 98:1980–1986

    Google Scholar 

  32. Shimizu K, Yokochi K and Okano T (1974) Fluorescein angiography of the choroid. Jap J Ophthal 18:97–108

    Google Scholar 

  33. Singh S and Dass R (1960) The central artery of the retina II. Distribution and anastomoses. Brit J Ophthal 44:280–299

    Google Scholar 

  34. Sossi N and Anderson DR (1983) Blockage of axonal transport in optic nerve induced by elevation of intraocular pressure. Effect of arterial hypertension induced by angiotensin I. Arch Ophthal 101:94–97

    Google Scholar 

  35. Sossi N and Anderson DR (1983) Effect of elevated intraocular pressure on blood flow. Occurrence in cat optic nerve head studied with Iodoantipyrine I 125. Arch Ophthal 101:98–101

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA

    Sohan Singh Hayreh

Authors
  1. Sohan Singh Hayreh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hayreh, S.S. Inter-individual variation in blood supply of the optic nerve head. Doc Ophthalmol 59, 217–246 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00159262

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00159262

Key words

Search

Navigation