Long-Term Effectiveness of Scleral Reinforcement in Children with Difficult Progressive Myopia

Summary

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of scleral reinforcement on the evolution of difficult progressive myopia in children. Seventy-four eyes, in 51 children from 3 to 14 years old, were operated on for high myopia and then followed for 5 years. The main criteria for the operations were refraction above -8 D, an increase in the myopia of more than -1 D per year, and myopic signs on the fundus of the eye. Fascia lata and Zenoderm (Ethicon) were used peroperatively. No serious surgical complications were observed, and 5 years after the operations we found a stabilization of the axial length of the eye in 78% of patients and refraction in 85% of patients. Progression of the myopia was seen in 22% of children, but the average rate was -0.4 D per year compared with -1.1 D in a control set of 45 myopic children. Scleral reinforcement is the only known way to stop or retard the progression of difficult myopia in children, and is therefore recommended as a safe and effective operation.