2020–2021 BCSC Basic and Clinical Science Course™
12 Retina and Vitreous
Part II: Disorders of the Retina and Vitreous
Chapter 17: Diseases of the Vitreous and Vitreoretinal Interface
Developmental Abnormalities
Prepapillary Vascular Loops
Initially thought to be remnants of the hyaloid artery, prepapillary vascular loops are normal retinal vessels that have grown into Bergmeister papilla before returning to the retina (Fig 17-9). The loops typically extend less than 5 mm into the vitreous. These vessels may supply one or more quadrants of the retina. FA has shown that 95% of these vessels are arterial and 5% are venous. Complications associated with these vessels include branch retinal artery obstruction, amaurosis fugax, and vitreous hemorrhage.
Excerpted from BCSC 2020-2021 series: Section 10 - Glaucoma. For more information and to purchase the entire series, please visit https://www.aao.org/bcsc.