Aberrant cilioretinal artery

Abstract

Arterial irrigation of the retina is through its central artery, except for occasional cases with a cilioretinal artery that contributes to the vascular supply of the macular area. Retinal arterial vascular anatomical variants of the retina are exceptional1.
We present a case of a 58-year-old male who on routine examination was found to have an aberrant cilioretinal artery. It is a branch that arises behind the optic nerve and runs directly to the macula and just before reaching it divides into two branches that embrace the macula in a “Y” configuration with an abnormally long course, to the peripheral retina, crossing with the superior and inferior temporal branches. It is postulated that due to its caliber and trajectory area it could have a vascular contribution role not only to the macular area but also to the temporal peripheral retina. The patient is asymptomatic and it was a casual finding.