Ophthalmic Artery

Origin of Ophthalmic Artery

It is a branch of internal carotid artery.

Origin: It arises when the internal carotid artery emerges through the roof of the cavernous sinus, medial to anterior clinoid process. 

Course of Ophthalmic Artery

• It enters the orbit through the optic canal inferolateral to the optic nerve, both in a common dural sheath.
• In the orbit it first lies inferior to it, then laterally and finally crosses above the optic nerve from lateral to medial side along with the ophthalmic vein (in front of artery) and nasociliary nerve ( behind the artery).
• It runs along the medial wall of the orbit between the media rectus and superior oblique muscles.
• At the medial end of the upper eyelid it divides into its terminal branches viz. supratrochlear and dorsal nasal arteries.

Branches of Ophthalmic Artery

Branches of ophthalmic artery are:

• Central artery of retina: supplies optic nerve and retina
• Muscular branches: supply extraocular muscles. They also give rise to anterior ciliary branches which supply anterior part of eyeball.
• Long and short posterior ciliary branches: pierce the sclera to supply eyeball.
• Lacrimal artery: supplies lacrimal glands and via lateral palpebral branches supplies upper eyelids and conjunctiva.
• Supra orbital artery: reaches face by passing through the supraorbital foramen and supplies forehead and scalp.
• Posterior ethmoidal artery: passes through the posterior ethmoidal foremen and supply posterior ethmoidal air cells.
• Anterior ethmoidal artery: passes through anterior ethmoidal foramen and supplies anterior and middle ethmoidal air cells, frontal sinus, nasal cavity and external nose.
• Terminal branches:
  • Supratrochlear : leaves orbit and supplies forehead and scalp.
  • Dorsal nasal artery: supplies side of nose and anastomoses with facial artery (anastomosis between branches of internal and external carotid arteries).

Applied Aspect