Superior ophthalmic vein
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Hacking C, Worsley C, Vadera S, et al. Superior ophthalmic vein. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 21 Jan 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-41992
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rID:
41992
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Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Craig Hacking had no recorded disclosures.
View Craig Hacking's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Calum Worsley had no recorded disclosures.
View Calum Worsley's current disclosures
Revisions:
19 times, by
12 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
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Synonyms:
- SOV
- Enlarged superior ophthalmic vein
- Enlarged superior ophthalmic veins
- Tortuous superior ophthalmic vein
- Tortuous superior ophthalmic veins
- Superior ophthalmic veins
- Dilated superior ophthalmic vein
- Dilated superior ophthalmic veins
- Dilation of the superior ophthalmic veins
- Dilation of the superior ophthalmic vein
- Dilatation of the superior ophthalmic veins
- Dilatation of the superior ophthalmic vein
The superior ophthalmic vein is a prominent vein of the orbit that is seen on CT and may be enlarged or tortuous in various disease entities.
Gross anatomy
Origin
Formed in the anterior part of the orbit by the union of the angular, supraorbital and supratrochlear veins.
Course
- courses laterally within the intraconal space (with the ophthalmic artery) to travel between the superior rectus muscle above and the optic nerve and ophthalmic artery below 1
- exits the intraconal space to become extraconal
- exits the orbit via the superior orbital fissure superior to the annulus of Zinn between the frontal (branch of V1) and trochlear nerves
Termination
- drains directly into the cavernous sinus
Tributaries
- vortex veins draining choroid
- central retinal vein
- veins that correspond to branches of the ophthalmic artery (ethmoidal vein, lacrimal)
Drains
- globe, upper eyelid, extraocular muscles and lacrimal gland
The mean diameter of the vein is 2 mm and normal sizes range from 1 to 2.9 mm 2. A threshold value of 2.5 mm has also been proposed 3.
Related pathology
Enlarged or tortuous superior ophthalmic veins may be seen in:
- carotid-cavernous fistula
- ophthalmic vein varix
- raised intracranial pressure
- Graves disease
- orbital pseudotumor
- superior ophthalmic vein thrombosis
Reversible bilateral enlargement of the superior ophthalmic veins is often seen in intubated patients 3. The superior ophthalmic veins may be hyperdense on CT due to thrombosis, including in cases of orbital cellulitis.
Quiz questions
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References
- 1. Cheung N & McNab A. Venous Anatomy of the Orbit. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2003;44(3):988-95. doi:10.1167/iovs.02-0865 - Pubmed
- 2. Ozgen A & Aydingöz U. Normative Measurements of Orbital Structures Using MRI. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 2000;24(3):493-6. doi:10.1097/00004728-200005000-00025 - Pubmed
- 3. Nabavizadeh S, Sundararajan S, Schmitt J, Loevner L. Reversible Dilation of the Superior Ophthalmic Vein in Intubated Patients. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2018;39(8):1505-8. doi:10.3174/ajnr.A5699 - Pubmed
- 4. Raymond Jack Last, Robert Matthew Hay McMinn. Last's anatomy, regional and applied. (1994) ISBN: 9780443046629
Incoming Links
Articles:
- Valveless vein
- Caroticocavernous fistula
- Enlarged extraocular muscles (differential)
- Inferior ophthalmic vein
- Orbital apex
- Ocular globe
- Lacrimal gland
- Cavernous sinus
- Frontal sinus
- Sphenoid sinus
- Extraocular muscles
- Thyroid-associated orbitopathy
- Orbital venous varix
- Supraorbital vein
- Extraconal orbital compartment
- Orbital infection
- Retina
- Medical abbreviations and acronyms (S)
- Frontal nerve
- Superior ophthalmic vein thrombosis
Cases:
- Caroticocavernous fistula
- Sinus pericrani
- Normal MRI orbits
- Traumatic ocular choroidal detachment, vitreous and retrobulbar haemorrhage
- Caroticocavernous fistula
- Orbital veins (Gray's illustration)
- Orbital cellulitis with superior ophthalmic vein thrombosis
- Caroticocavernous fistula
- Caroticocavernous fistula
- Caroticocavernous fistula - direct
- Superior ophthalmic vein thrombosis
- Cavernous dural arteriovenous fistula with cortical venous reflux
- Superior ophthalmic vein thrombosis
- Caroticocavernous fistula (indirect)
Multiple choice questions:
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