A personal and professional eyecare service for over 30 years

	Inside the eye...
	>> Focussing
	>> Lids
	>> Blood Vessels
	>> Fovea/Macula
	>> Optic Nerve
	>> Visual Field Screening
	>> Interactive Eye
	Eye conditions
	>> Diabetes
	>> Blepharitis
	>> Dry Eye
	>> Cataract
	>> Glaucoma
	>> Macular Disease
	>> Vessel Occlusion

Blood Vessels

Blood pressure, anaemia, and diabetes all affect the way the blood vessels appear. When smoking affects the cardiovascular system, the effects can be seen here too.

colour pic of vessels

Veins and arteries are translucent, the arteries appearing brighter as they carry the oxygen rich blood from the heart, the blood in the veins, with less oxygen, appearing darker.

b & w pic of vessels

The point at which veins and arteries cross (marked X above) is particularly significant. In raised blood pressure, or when arteries 'fur up' (from smoking!), they can harden and appear to squash the veins.

Blood Vessel Blockages (Occlusions)

Occasionally a blockage can occur in one of the main vessels, either bringing blood into the eye or taking the blood away. If there is a blockage of the supply into the eye the retina will become 'parched' and die, just like a garden deprived of water, leading to a pale area, as in the picture below.

Photo by permission of the Internet Ophthalmology Society
picture of fundus, showing arterial occlusion

picture of fundus, showing arterial occlusion

The above shows the effect of blockage of an artery bringing blood to the eye. Should the blockage occur in a vein taking blood away from the eye, blood can still pump in, leading to a characteristic 'bombed' appearance as the blood bursts forth (see below).

Photo by permission of the Internet Ophthalmology Society
picture of fundus, showing venous occlusion

picture of fundus, showing venous occlusion

To the patient, the effect on the vision of the blockage (occlusion) will ultimately be the same - any retinal area deprived of proper blood supply will die, with vision lost in the area which corresponds to where the supply has been interrupted. A vein blockage, as shown above, gives rise to an extremely sudden visual problem, the moment the haemorrhage occurs.