Visual outcome predictors after surgical excision of meningiomas compressing the optochiasmatic complex

Meningioma arising from locations in the vicinity of the optic nerve or chiasm may affect the visual function and sometimes the presentation of such tumors. Decompression of the optic nerve or chiasm can give a chance for the visual function to recover. Thirty patients who had visual function affection and underwent meningioma excision are followed up for a period of 1 year with regular follow of their visual function periodically. In this study, females were more prevalent than males, 24 out of 30, age ranged from 24 to 72 years at the time of surgery, half the patients (15) presented with visual deterioration, the other patients presented with headache, seizure, proptosis, or accidentally discovered. Twenty-two patients improved concerning their visual function over time, 6 patients had a stationary course, and 2 patients deteriorated postoperatively. Follow-up of patients after surgical excision of meningioma compressing the anterior optic pathway showed gradual improvement in vision in follow-up period up to 1 year, although the improvement in visual function showed a surge in early postoperative period, with continuous less steep improvement afterwards till the end of the observation period. Surgical excision of meningiomas compressing the anterior visual pathway gives chance for recovery of visual function, more in younger patients, patients with a shorter period of visual deterioration, and patients with mild affection of the preoperative visual status. No statistically significant influence of tumor site, size, degree of excision, and surgical approach on the postoperative visual outcome in this series.