Normal ocular circulation and the effect of arterial occlusive disorders

Arterial occlusive disease, either primary or secondary, may not only affect the appearance of the ophthalmic artery, posterior ciliary arteries, and choroid crescent, but may be reflected in the prolongation of the circulation time to the crescent. Choroid circulation time determined in 80 normal carotid angiograms showed that a value > 4.5 sec. for a population under 30 years of age and older, is prolonged. One should view these studies with suspicion and search for intra-orbital, intracranial, or extracranial arterial occlusive disease.