Transfrontal orbital decompression after failure of transantral decompression in optic neuropathy of Graves' disease

Transantral and transfrontal orbital decompression procedures are effective for treating optic neuropathy of Graves' disease. We studied 10 patients with Graves' disease to clarify whether transfrontal decompression is effective after prior failure of transantral orbital decompression. All patients had persistent or recurrent optic neuropathy after transantral decompression and had failed to respond to systemic corticosteroid therapy. After transfrontal decompression, visual acuity improved in 70% of the eyes, and visual field scotomas decreased in 80%. No major intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred. We conclude that in optic neuropathy of Graves' disease, transfrontal orbital decompression after failure of transantral decompression is an acceptable and beneficial salvage procedure.