Glaucoma

Circumferential Vessels

Normal Circumferential Artery of the Ciliary Body
  • In normal eyes, these vessels are not usually visible by gonioscopic examination.
  • However, occasionally wandering portion or loops of the vessels may protrude from the surface of the angle and be situated far in front of the scleral spur and trabecular meshwork.
  • The prominent vessels may also be seen anterior to the root of the iris.
  • Only short segments of the undulating loops usually come into gonioscopic view. The vessels typically take a circumferential route without compromising aqueous outflow.
  • In addition to these vessels, normal radial vessels may also be seen in the peripheral iris of lightly colored eyes and should be distinguished from abnormal neovascularization of the iris or abnormally dilated vessels associated with inflammation.