What is Superior ophthalmic vein?

The superior ophthalmic vein is a vein of the orbit around the eye. It begins from the angular vein and the supraorbital vein, and passes through the superior orbital fissure to drain into the cavernous sinus. It drains the ethmoidal veins, the lacrimal vein, the central retinal vein, some vorticose veins, and veins from two rectus muscles. It can be a path for the spread of infection from the danger triangle of the face to the cavernous sinus and the pterygoid plexus. It may also be affected by an arteriovenous fistula of the cavernous sinus, treated with embolization.