A minimally invasive brain surgery performed at The Medical City (TMC) has successfully removed a tumor pressing on a patient’s optic nerves, restoring his vision through a modified surgical technique.

John Muni, a 34-year-old tech professional, initially sought medical attention after months of persistent headaches and worsening vision. What he believed to be a simple case of astigmatism turned out to be a tumor at the central skull base, detected through an MRI. The mass was compressing his optic nerves, resulting in bitemporal hemianopsia, a condition where peripheral vision in both eyes gradually fades.

Muni first noticed peripheral blurring in both eyes. “[My] vision was failing. So at first, I thought it was astigmatism, but I was not satisfied,” he shared. He then went on to have a second opinion, unsatisfied, he underwent an MRI scan and saw a mass near his optic nerves.

Determined to act quickly, Muni searched online for the right medical team to address his condition. He came across Dr. Jerold Justo, a neurosurgeon at TMC and felt confident enough to proceed with the surgery after a brief consultation. His priority was clear: prevent further vision loss.

He immediately consented to the operation, which involved a minimally invasive craniotomy through an incision along the eyebrow—a customized variation that allows access to the tumor site while minimizing trauma to surrounding tissues.

Muni shared that his recovery was smooth. Waking up after the surgery felt surreal for him, as if only a few moments had passed. His vision gradually began to return, and no complications were observed. For a major brain procedure, the outcome exceeded expectations and marked a turning point in his journey back to health.

The Medical City's dedication to continuous medical education was crucial to this success. Dr. Justo, whose subspecialty training was supported by TMC's Continuing Medical Education (CME) grant, credited his refined approach to his time abroad.

"I employed a modified version of the traditional technique, which I refined during my fellowship training in skull-base neurosurgery in France,” Dr. Justo shared. “It’s fulfilling to now bring back these skills and [apply] them in the care of our own Filipino patients, tailoring global techniques to the needs of our local context.”