Neural Control of Ocular Blood Flow

Abstract

The eye possesses several major vascular beds, including those of the retina, the optic nerve, the ciliary body, and the iris. The retina itself has two vascular supplies in most mammalian species, the choroidal vasculature and the vessels of the inner retina [37]. The choroid accounts for >85% of the blood supply to the retina and all of the blood supply to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptors [33, 37]. These blood vessels are innervated by parasympathetic, sympathetic, and sensory nerve fi bers, and they are thus under neural control. The blood supply to the choroid arises from the ophthalmic branch of the internal carotid artery, via the long and short ciliary arteries (Fig. 12.1).