Allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) is a severe type of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) characterized by a high risk of acute vision loss resulting from the affection of optic nerves. This vision loss results from direct pressure upon the optic nerve by the sinus tissues and bone degradation. This is why early involvement of a professional is significant so as not to result in a permanent disability. This systematic review and meta-analysis will analyze the efficacy of surgical operations in enhancing visual outcomes in patients with acute vision loss due to AFRS. A systematic search was carried out based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines using PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus with the keywords "acute vision loss," "allergic fungal rhinosinusitis," and "surgical intervention." The studies included patients who developed AFRS-related acute vision loss, those assessing the outcomes of the surgical interventions, and those published in English. Two separate researchers extracted data and conducted quality assessments. The data synthesis process employed the R studio software (Posit, Boston, MA). The identified studies for the review constituted 12 and involved 320 patients. The mean pooled event rate regarding acute vision loss of AFRS patients was 33.1%. Ear, nose, and throat surgeries, including functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) and optic nerve decompression, had a mean pooled success in vision recovery of 68%. Early treatment and utilization of other types of corticosteroids were utilized to enhance the results. Hence, early and proper surgery like FESS, optic nerve decompression, and corticosteroid treatment have better visual prognosis in AFRS patients. Standard early diagnosis and management guarantee the prevention of irreversible blindness, which stresses the need for an interdisciplinary approach and further studies.
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