The ophthalmic artery arises as the first intracranial vessel branch from the internal carotid artery (ICA) before the posterior communicating artery.

Anatomy

The ophthalmic artery courses inferior to the optic nerve through the optic canal into the orbit[^3]. The most important arterial anastomosis between the internal carotid artery and external carotid artery runs through the ophthalmic artery[^2].

Vascular Branches

The ophthalmic artery gives off the following arterial branches:

Central retinal artery
Long posterior ciliary arteries
Short posterior ciliary arteries
Lacrimal artery
Supraorbital artery
Supratrochlear artery
Anterior ethmoidal artery
Posterior ethmoidal artery
Muscular branches
Palpebral arteries
Dorsal nasal artery

Anatomical Variants

In approximately 89% of cases, the ophthalmic artery arises distal to the cavernous sinus, in about 8% of cases within the cavernous sinus, and in about 3% of cases, the ophthalmic artery is completely absent [^1].

Illustration

Orbital arteries—Gray's Anatomy — Schematic illustration of the orbital arteries and their branches. Figure adapted from Gray's Anatomy, Figure 514.

Imaging

The gold standard for the visualization of the ophthalmic artery is the digital subtraction angiography.

Angiography of the ophthalmic artery — Visualization of the ophthalmic artery on digital subtraction angiography in the lateral view.

Symptoms

An occlusion of the ophthalmic artery results in monocular blindness or amaurosis fugax. Due to the extensive collateral circulation with the external carotid artery, symptoms are often only transient[^2].

Ophthalmic artery