PTERIONAL DECOMPRESSION OF THE ORBIT IN E NDOCRINE ORBITOPATHIES

The etiology of the endocrine orbitopathy is still unknown and thereby their treatment remains symptomatic. The surgical decompression is ac hieved in resecting lateral wall, roof and partly bottom of the orbit. We treated 23 eyes in 14 patients and in only one patient the decompr ession obtained whis this method was insufficient. This patient underw ent additionally transantral transethmoidal decompression. One patient had a complete loss of vision after surgery probably du to direct les ion of the optic nerve. The decompression of the orbit is indicated in fast progressive endocrine orbitopathies with impairement of the visu al fonction.