[Neurovascular compression of the optic nerve as a cause of progressive visual dysfunctions and decompression treatment].

On the basis of two cases, the authors show that the optic nerve and the chiasma may be compressed due to vascular anomalies at the skull base. The symptoms are usually misinterpreted as opticochiasmatic arachnopathy or optic neuritis with severe progressive chiasma syndrome. If the condition is diagnosed early and treated by neurosurgical decompression, the prognosis may be satisfactory.