[Compression lesions of the chiasmal area from the viewpoint of the ophthalmologist]

The authors evaluate 100 tumour of the chiasmal region (80 pituitary adenomas, 8 meningiomas, 7 craniopharyngiomas, 5 other tumours) and present their neuroophthalmological findings. In comparison with the findings in pituitary adenomas of the last decade the number of bilateral blindness was lower by 2.4%, the number of the optic atrophy was lower by 48.1% and the number of patients with a vision worse then 1.0 by 60.6%. Before the operation 91.2% patients had defects in the visual fields (monolateral in 5% and bilateral in 86.2%). The authors point out a relatively long period between the first compressive symptoms and the operation, especially in nonsecreting pituitary adenomas (2.1 years). An early diagnosis and an appropriate therapy of the patients suffering from the compressive lesions of the chiasmal region decreases the risk of permanent vision defects.