Astrocytomas are among the rarest of the neoplasms which occur within the eye. Except those intraocular tumors which have occurred in association with neurofibromatosis or with tuberous sclerosis, and those optic nerve gliomas which have invaded the optic papilla, there are apparently only four reported cases1,3,10,12 in which previous reporters1,8,10 deemed documentation adequate. There are two additional case reports of intraocular gliomas unassociated with phakomatoses. One of these was considered as derived from Müller's cells13 and one was believed to be oligodendroglioma.8 Intraocular extension of primary optic nerve gliomas has been described by many observers.2,11,18,20,21 In most instances such tumors have infiltrated only into the optic nerve head but they may also involve the adjacent retina.21 The present report of astrocytoma of the optic nerve head was unassociated with neurofibromatosis or tuberous sclerosis. It is recorded in order to illustrate some of the special