[Pathological changes of the optic nerve from compression by the internal carotid artery].

The optic nerve in relation to the internal carotid artery was anatomically and pathologically studied in 51 adult brain specimens. There were obvious impressions on the optic nerves from compression by the sclerosed internal carotid arteries, and pathological changes in the optic nerves, such as atrophy, were observed in 6.9% of the specimens. This fact suggests that clinical visual defects of unknown explanation may be caused by the indurative internal carotid artery compressing the optic nerve.