Visual function in children with primary brain tumors.

To review the recent advances in understanding how primary brain tumors affect vision in children.Children with primary brain tumors may have vision loss due to involvement of their afferent visual pathways or from papilledema. These vision deficits may go unrecognized until later in life, years after treatment of the primary lesion. Strabismus and cranial nerve palsies may occur as a result of brain tumors. Ophthalmologists can monitor and treat young children at risk for vision loss from amblyopia as a result of effects from their underlying lesion. Advances in imaging techniques have made it possible to quantify damage to the visual pathways with objective tests.Systematic referrals for evaluation by an ophthalmologist should occur early in the course of treatment of primary brain tumors as these evaluations may improve visual outcomes and quality of life.