Optic nerve blindness due to paranasal sinus disease.

Patients with total blindness caused by paranasal sinus disease have rarely been reported. We retrospectively studied the prognosis of patients who had optic nerve blindness due to paranasal sinus disease. During the past 10 years, we identified 17 patients with optic nerve disease and posterior paranasal sinus disease. Seven of the 17 patients with optic nerve disease and paranasal sinus disease had no light perception. Five of these 7 patients with paranasal sinus disease had a final visual acuity of 20/200 or better. Two patients showed dramatic visual improvement after endonasal surgery. Because immediate surgery to correct paranasal sinus disease is required in affected patients, computed tomography should be done at the patient's first visit.