The optic tract continues from the back of the optic chiasm and curves around the cerebral peduncle to reach the lateral geniculate nucleus. Each tract carries fibres from the same-side temporal retina and the opposite-side nasal retina, and so represents the opposite half of the visual field.
| Location | Runs from the posterolateral corner of the optic chiasm, around the lateral side of the cerebral peduncle, to the lateral geniculate nucleus |
|---|---|
| Parts |
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| Connections |
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| Blood Supply | Anterior choroidal artery; Posterior communicating artery branches |
Carries visual information for the opposite visual field to the thalamus for conscious vision and to the midbrain for pupil reflexes and eye orientation.
An optic tract lesion causes a contralateral homonymous hemianopia that is often incongruous (not identical in each eye). Because pupillary fibres travel in the tract, there may be a relative afferent pupillary defect in the eye opposite the lesion, which helps distinguish tract lesions from more posterior ones.
Loss of the same half of the visual field in both eyes, with differing shapes in each eye, typical of optic tract damage.
Homonymous field loss with a contralateral relative afferent pupillary defect and later optic atrophy, usually from tumours, aneurysms or trauma.
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