"Three-Dimensional Topography of the Emerging Point of the Ophthalmic Artery."

BACKGROUND: During periorbital noninvasive and surgical procedures there is the risk of iatrogenic injury to the emerging point of the ophthalmic artery. This study aimed to determine the three-dimensional location of the emerging point of the ophthalmic artery and to provide clinicians with anatomic information that would help them to avoid associated complications.

METHODS: Seventeen hemifaces of the emerging point of the ophthalmic artery from 10 Korean and 7 Thai cadavers were dissected and scanned by a three-dimensional scanner. The emerging points of the ophthalmic artery of 30 healthy Korean volunteers were also detected using an ultrasound imaging system.

RESULTS: The transverse distance from the medial canthus to the emerging of the ophthalmic artery was 3.8±1.0 mm medially, while the vertical distance was 14.0±2.9 mm superiorly. The transverse distance from the midline was 16.5±1.7 mm to the emerging point of the ophthalmic artery and 20.0±2.0 mm to the medial canthus. The measured depth from the skin surface to the emerging point of the ophthalmic artery was 4.8±1.7 mm in three-dimensional scanning and 4.5±1.1 mm in ultrasound detection. The vertical distance from the inferior margin of the superior orbital rim to the emerging point of the ophthalmic artery was 5.3±1.4 mm.

CONCLUSIONS: These data inform clinicians about the anatomic three-dimensional location of the emerging point of the ophthalmic artery, which will help them to avoid iatrogenic injury when they are performing periorbital clinical procedures.