Optic nerve and orbital tumors

The close proximity of the orbit to the brain and the high frequency of ocular symptoms in patients with neurosurgical disease make it mandatory for neurosurgeons to be familiar with manifestations of orbital disease. Tumors of the optic nerve and orbit are important causes of vision loss and eye movement abnormalities. Similarly, intracranial tumors frequently present with eye movement abnormalities, vision loss, and optic nerve swelling. This overlap in the clinical characteristics of patients with orbital tumors and patients with neurosurgical problems makes familiarity with the types of clinical presentation of various orbital tumors important to the neurosurgeon. The history and examination of patients with orbital tumors are discussed and the clinical presentation of various orbital tumors is presented.