OBJECTIVETo investigate the possible reasons and the treating experiences of ophthalmic complications in order to elevate the attention of the nasal endoscopic surgeon.

METHODSThis study was involved 8 categories in 22 cases which had typical characteristic of ophthalmic complications of endoscopic sinus surgery, including injury of lamina papyracea, obstructive cyst of frontal and ethmoid sinuses, orbital infection, injuries of lacrimal passages, injury of extraocular muscles, orbital hemorrhage, optic nerve injury and arterial embolism of optic fundi. The patients were given corresponding treatment.

RESULTSInjury of lamina papyracea was cured by medical treatment while orbital infection, injury of lacrimal passages, obstructive cyst of frontal and ethmoid sinuses were completely recovered by endoscopic surgery. In one of the cases, the injured optic nerve had recovered after transnasal optic and orbital apex decompression but the other 6 sides of 6 patients had not been improved. In one case who had suffered from injury of extraocular muscles, their diplopia disappeared mostly, but the other cases had a slight diplopia after surgery. One case who had visual descending caused by orbital hemorrhage recovered. Two cases of visual loss caused by intraorbital hemorrhage and arterial embolism of optic fundi respectively were not improved.

CONCLUSIONSIt is very difficult to cure if the patients lose the sight because of optic nerve injury, orbital hemorrhage and the ischemia of orbit, however, if the patients had remnant vision the prognosis should be much better.