Twelve patients with fibrous dysplasia of the orbit are reviewed and t
he ophthalmic findings described. Three case histories are presented i
n detail. Six patients were managed conservatively; four have shown ra
diological progression of the disease. Six patients underwent surgery.
A conservative procedure, comprising debulking dysplastic bone, was c
arried out in four - all required further surgery including radical ex
cision in two patients. Two subjects had primary radical operations. N
o recurrence was encountered in the four patients who had undergone ra
dical surgery. It would appear that fibrous dysplasia is not a disease
confined to adolescence but may continue into adulthood, and even mid
dle age. Patients may never require surgery, but require follow up for
late progression. If surgical intervention is deemed necessary, an at
tempt should be made to excise all dysplastic bone, since progression
of the disease after conservative surgery is relatively common.