Twelve patients undergoing surgery between May 1995 and March 1999 for malignant tumours of the paranasal sinuses abutting or invading the orbital walls were studied for the need to remove orbital contents. Alt patients were evaluated clinically, radiologically (CT Scan) and per-operatively to delineate the extent of orbital invasion. Combined regimen (Surgery + Radiotherapy) were used in all patients. A biopsy from periorbita was taken when eye was spared. It was found that per-operative evaluation of the orbit is equally specific in comparision to clinical and CT Scan combined and eye may be preserved in selected patients with involvement of orbital periosteum provided there is no frank soft tissue mass in the orbit.