A retrospective study was performed in 28 patients with optic pathway gliomas treated at our institution between 1975-1995. The median age was 8 (range 1-55) years. The female-to-male ratio was 16:12. Seven patients (25%) had a history of neurofibromatosis. Twenty-two patients had histologic confirmation of the diagnosis and six patients were clinically diagnosed. Of the 22 surgically treated patients 12 (55%) had biopsy only and 10 (45%) underwent subtotal excision. Four patients showed tumor limited to optic nerve. Three patients had tumor located on chiasma only and nine patients were with tumors involving the chiasma and one or two optic nerves. More extensive involvement including involvement of hypothalamus and the third ventricle was recorded in 12 patients. Radiotherapy was applied with Co-60 unit or 6 MV photon beams and all patients received irradiation to local fields. The median dose was 5040 cGy in conventional fractions. The median follow-up time was 72 months. Ten-year overall survival and progression free survival were 93% and 84% respectively. The vision improved in 42% and remained stable in 58% of patients. We conclude that postoperative radiotherapy is beneficial in patients with chiasmal involvement and with incomplete resections.