Retinal Arteries and Veins: Function & Importance

Retinal arteries:

* Supply oxygen and nutrients to the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.

* Branch off from the central retinal artery, which enters the eye through the optic nerve.

* Divide into smaller arteries that spread out across the retina.

* The smallest arteries, called arterioles, deliver blood to the capillaries.

Retinal veins:

* Drain deoxygenated blood from the retina.

* Merge to form larger veins that empty into the central retinal vein.

* The central retinal vein leaves the eye through the optic nerve and joins the cavernous sinus, a large vein in the brain.

The retinal arteries and veins are essential for maintaining the health of the retina. If the blood supply to the retina is disrupted, it can lead to vision loss.