Sectorial blood supply to the monkey optic disc surface from the cilioretinal artery.

The cilioretinal artery in one monkey eye (left) was observed using fluorescein videoangiography and a scanning laser ophthalmoscope, and was further evaluated by scanning electron microscopy after microvascular corrosion casting. Following intravenous injection of fluorescent dye, a choroidal flush was observed at 5.7 seconds. Appearance of the dye in two cilioretinal arteries at the edge of the temporal optic disc was at 5.9 seconds, and the capillary phase of these arteries, at 6.4 seconds. The dye was first observed in the central retinal artery at 6.9 seconds. The cilioretinal arteries directly supplied the microcirculation of the temporal quadrant of the optic disc and the retinal vasculature in the disc-macular area. The vascular casting showed the entire course of the cilioretinal arteries in the retina. The cilioretinal arteries entered the temporal edge of the retrobulbar optic nerve head and branched to the prelaminar and the temporal edge of the optic disc.