Central retinal vein
Vena centralis retinae
Sensory (eye & ear)OrgansHeadLeft and right
View left in 3D View right in 3D
- What it is
- Formed at the optic disc by four retinal venous branches that run beside the arteries; it leaves the optic nerve with the artery and drains into the superior ophthalmic vein or cavernous sinus.
- Function
- Drains blood from the inner retina.
- Size
- About 1.5 times the width of the matching artery (artery:vein ratio ~2:3).
- Clinical note
- A central retinal vein occlusion gives a "blood-and-thunder" fundus with widespread haemorrhages; loss of spontaneous venous pulsation at the disc can hint at raised intracranial pressure.