Progressive improvement of impaired visual acuity during the first year after transsphenoidal surgery for non-functioning pituitary macroadenoma

OBJECTIVE: Improvement of visual field defects continues even years after the initial surgical treatment. Because this process of continuing improvement has not been documented for visual acuity, we audited our data to explore the pattern of recovery of visual acuity until 1 year after transsphenoidal surgery for non-functioning pituitary macroadenoma. DESIGN: Retrospective follow-up study. PATIENTS: Forty-three patients (mean age 56 ± 14 years), treated by transsphenoidal surgery for non-functioning pituitary macroadenoma, were included in this analysis. RESULTS: Visual acuity improved significantly within 3 months after transsphenoidal surgery. The mean visual acuity increased from 0.65 ± 0.37 to 0.75 ± 0.36 (P < 0.01) (right eye), and from 0.60 ± 0.32 to 0.82 ± 0.30 (P < 0.01) (left eye). Visual acuity was improved 1 year after transsphenoidal surgery compared to the 3 months postoperative values. The mean visual acuity increased from 0.75 ± 0.36 to 0.82 ± 0.34 (P < 0.05) (right eye), and from 0.82 ± 0.30 to 0.88 ± 0.27 (P < 0.05) (left eye). CONCLUSION: Visual acuity improves progressively after surgical treatment for non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas, at least within the first year after transsphenoidal surgery.