ABSTRACT
Anatomy of eye as it relates to ocular blood supply .......................... 215 Vasculature of embryonic eye ................................................................. 216
Tissue-specific aspects of blood vessel growth and regression................................................................................ 216 Development of retinal vasculature........................................... 217
Regression of hyaloid vasculature .......................................................... 218 Ischemia-induced retinal neovascularization........................................ 219 Choroidal neovascularization .................................................................. 220 Endogenous inhibitors of angiogenesis ................................................. 221 Excess vascular permeability ................................................................... 222 Conclusions................................................................................................. 223 Acknowledgments ..................................................................................... 223 References.................................................................................................... 223
Anatomy of eye as it relates to ocular blood supply The eye is a relatively confined compartment in which the vasculature can be visualized and assessed in situ. The retinal vessels enter the eye through the optic nerve and send branches along the surface with penetrating branches that form intermediate and deep capillary beds that supply the inner two thirds of the retina. The outer third of the retina, consisting of the photoreceptors, is avascular and receives its oxygen and nutrients by diffusion from the choroidal circulation. This is an adaptation that maximizes photon capture by disk membranes in the outer segments of photoreceptors; it would be impaired by blood vessels immediately above the outer segments.
