PURPOSE:To evaluated the luminal characteristics of the elderly central retinal vessels in the anterior optic nerves. METHODS:Serial sections of 15 central retinal arteries(CRA)and 23 central retinal veins (CRA)of 18 eyes of the aged 60 to 82 years old without anatomic malformation were examined by image analysis to investigate their luminal dimensional differences at the sites of lamina cribrosa and just anterior and posterior to it. RESULTS:The average values of the mean area of the CRA in the prelaminar,laminar,retrolaminar portions were separately(12.70,17.40,18.00)times;10-3mm2 and the mean perimetric length 0.56,0.56,0.57mm.No significant difference was detected in these three sites.The average values of the mean area of the CRV were respectively(7.00,5.40,7.90)）times;10-3mm2 and the mean perimetric length 0.44,0.38,0.41mm.There were marked differences between the prelaminar value and the laminar one,and between the laminar value and retrolaminar one by comparison. CONCLUSION:The CRA has a uniform radius from prelaminar to retrolaminar positions,and tube radius of the CRV at the level of the lamina cribrosa is the least. （Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1997,13: 213-214 ）