Molecular Classification
Other
Other Names
Eyelid margin blood vessel, Lid margin vasculature, Marginal arcade (when referring to the main arterial network), Palpebral blood vessel (less specific)
Disease Roles
Inflammation (e.g., meibomian gland dysfunction, blepharitis)[2][4]Infection (as a route for spread)[5]Vascular abnormalities (e.g., telangiectasia in rosacea or basal cell carcinoma)[6][8]

Blood vessel in eyelid margin Overview

The "blood vessel in eyelid margin" refers to the network of arteries, veins, and capillaries supplying the tissues at the edge of the upper and lower eyelids. The primary arterial supply comes from branches of both the internal carotid artery—mainly via the ophthalmic artery—and external carotid artery branches such as the facial and superficial temporal arteries. These vessels form arcades along both upper and lower lid margins called marginal arcades[3][5][7]. Venous drainage follows similar routes through medial/lateral palpebral veins into larger facial venous systems[7]. This vascular network is essential for delivering oxygen/nutrients, supporting tissue health, enabling rapid healing after injury, and facilitating immune responses. Abnormalities or increased visibility of these vessels can be seen with chronic inflammation (such as meibomian gland dysfunction), infection, or neoplastic processes like basal cell carcinoma where telangiectatic vessels may be prominent on clinical exam[2][6][8]. Recent research has focused on quantifying lid margin vascularity using imaging techniques like swept-source OCT angiography; this may serve as an objective marker for disease activity but does not make these vessels themselves therapeutic targets[2][4]. Additional notes: • This entry is **not** a molecular target such as a receptor or enzyme; it describes an anatomical structure composed of multiple types of blood vessels. • There are no known drugs that specifically target "blood vessel in eyelid margin" itself; however, some therapies may affect local vasculature indirectly when treating underlying diseases. • The term should not be considered a canonical drug discovery/therapeutic target. In summary: "Blood vessel in eyelid margin" is an anatomical feature rather than a discrete molecular entity or therapeutic target. It plays important roles in local physiology and pathology but does not fit standard classifications used for drug targets.

Mechanism of Action

Biological Functions

Tissue perfusion
Oxygen and nutrient delivery
Waste removal
Support of healing and immune response in eyelid tissue[1][3][5]

Disease Associations

Inflammation (e.g., meibomian gland dysfunction, blepharitis)[2][4]
Infection (as a route for spread)[5]
Vascular abnormalities (e.g., telangiectasia in rosacea or basal cell carcinoma)[6][8]

Safety Considerations

No safety concerns listed

Associated Biomarkers

Biomarker
Lid margin blood flow density (LMBFD), as measured by OCT-A, is being explored as a biomarker for inflammation severity in meibomian gland dysfunction[2][4].