Transantral orbital decompression for compressive optic neuropathy due to sphenoid ridge meningioma.

We present a case of unilateral exophthalmos and compressive optic neuropathy due to sphenoid ridge meningioma. The patient underwent transantral orbital decompression with removal of the orbital floor and medial wall that resulted in rapid, dramatic normalization of both visual acuity and visual field in the involved eye. Due to the slow-growing, noninfiltrative nature of meningiomas, we propose this procedure as an alternative, initial, palliative treatment for selected cases of compressive optic neuropathy due to meningioma compressing the posterior orbit. This procedure can provide restoration of visual function with less risk to the patient than neurosurgical resection.