Optociliary shunt vessels in compressive optic neuropathy by the intracranial internal carotid artery.

PURPOSE To report a clinical case of optic nerve compression by supraclinoidal internal carotid artery associated with optociliary shunt vessels. METHODS A 78-year-old woman with the clinical triad of left visual loss, ipsilateral optic disc pallor, and retinochoroidal (optociliary) shunt vessels is reported. She complained of loss of vision in the left eye of 2 years'' duration. RESULTS A diffuse depression of the visual field was found in the affected eye. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed left optic nerve compression by the supraclinoidal internal carotid artery. CONCLUSIONS The occurrence of optociliary shunt vessels, visual loss, and optic atrophy is a nonspecific sign of chronic optic nerve compression and in some instances may be falsely localized.