In decisions on whether surgical relief of pressure on the optic canal is indicated after trauma-related visual loss, the possibility of secondary lesions near the tip of the orbita and the optic canal must be taken into account. These are not always revealed by computer tomography. The indications should be critically weighed up in each individual case, with additional imaging examinations, such as MR-angiography, CT-angiography, or conventional angiography, performed as needed. The options and indications for imaging are discussed. The procedure can by no means be rated as "minimally invasive", as is postulated by some authors.