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[Arteriosclerosis of the orbital arteries]
Background:
The anatomy of the orbital arteries is well known, and their physiology is under intensive investigation. Their age-related or other pathologic alterations, however, are still largely unknown.
Method:
We obtained at autopsy 16 orbits from 8 persons aged > 70 years, and 4 orbits from 2 persons between 40 and 50 years. Specimens were taken from 20 locations along the orbital arteries, from the internal carotid to the globe, and studied by light microscopy.
Results:
We observed the following arteriosclerotic changes, in order of decreasing frequency: intimal hyperplasia, medial atrophy, atherosclerotic fibrous plaques, and calcifications of the internal elastic lamina. The frequency and severity generally decreased with smaller arterial caliber.
Conclusion:
Arteriosclerosis was ubiquitous in persons > 70 years of age. Degenerative changes in aged human orbital arteries may play an important role in ophthalmic vascular diseases.