[Compression of the optic nerves by arteriosclerotic internal carotid arteries. Case report].

The authors describe a case of a 53-year-old woman with recurrent episodes of high-grade amblyopia leading to blindness of the left eye and considerable impairment of the visual acuity of the right eye. Laboratory investigations ruled out presence of a tumour in this area. In view of possible adhesive arachnitis in the region of the chiasma exploratory craniotomy was done finding an evident compression of the visual nerves closely at the optic foramina by the dilated and atherosclerotic internal carotid arteries. The authors review the literature on the problem stressing the rarity of the syndrome.