Compressive optic neuropathy secondary to chronic sinusitis

The paranasal sinuses surround the orbit on three sides. The thin bony walls of the sinuses are an ineffective barrier to the spread of infection to either the orbit or the intracranial cavity. In this report a case of compressive optic neuropathy secondary to chronic sinusitis is presented. The anatomical and physiologic relation between the sinuses and the orbit are reviewed and sinusitis is discussed.