[Sectorial blood supply of the monkey optic disc surface from the cilioretinal artery].

The cilioretinal artery in a monkey eye was observed by scanning laser ophthalmoscope video-angiography and evaluated by microvascular corrosion casting. After an intravenous injection of fluorescent dye, we observed a choroidal flush at 5.7 seconds, appearance of the dye in two cilioretinal arteries from the edge of the temporal optic disc at 5.9 seconds, and the capillary phase of cilioretinal 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 disc in a sector-shaped pattern and the retinal vasculature in the disc-macular area. The vascular casting showed the total course of the cilioretinal arteries from the posterior ciliary arteries to the retina. The cilioretinal arteries entered the temporal edge of the retrobulbar optic nerve head, gave off some branches at the prelaminar portion, and appeared at the temporal edge of the optic disc.