| Vorticose veins | |
| Latin: | venae vorticosae |
| Drainsto: | Superior ophthalmic vein, and inferior ophthalmic vein |
| Artery: | Short posterior ciliary arteries |
The vorticose veins, referred to clinically as the vortex veins,[1] are veins that drain the choroid of the eye. There are usually 4-5 vorticose veins in each eye, with at least one vorticose vein per each quadrant of the eye. Vorticose veins drain into the superior ophthalmic vein, and inferior ophthalmic vein.[2]
Vorticose veins are an important ophthalmoscopic landmark.[3]
Vorticose veins exit the eyeball 6 mm posterior to its equator.
Upper vortex veins empty into the superior ophthalmic vein, and lower vortex veins empty into the inferior ophthalmic vein.[4]
The number of vorticose veins is known to vary from 4 to 8, with about 65% of the normal population having 4 or 5 with at least one vein in each quadrant.
Vorticose veins are an important ophthalmoscopic landmark. They can be visualised in a dilated pupil using an indirect ophthalmoscope.