Women from their teens through 50's are more likely to have this condition. If medical treatment has failed and swelling with visual field loss progresses, direct opening of decompression of the optic nerve via endoscopy of the sinuses has been shown to be an effective and relatively simple procedure for relief.
Surgery
Surgery involves opening the sinuses through the nose and then carefully drilling the bone over the optic nerve. The lining of the nerve is then slit to allow the nerve to swell and relieve the pressure. Computer guided surgery is sometimes used to aid in identifying structures in the sinus. This allows for accurate navigation in the nose.
Recovery
Recovery is rapid with minimal pain and discomfort. When surgery is successful vision improvement is usually dramatic.
