[Posterior scleral reinforcement surgery].

UNLABELLED: Scleral reinforcement is proposed to stabilize the visual acuity in patients with macular myopic staphyloma. Although many patients have been treated, this procedure is still debated.

PURPOSE: Evaluation of the feasibility of scleral reinforcement and the operative risk of this procedure.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Patients were eligible for this prospective study patients with a clinical history of visual loss, staphyloma concerning the macular area associated with atrophic lesion and or lacquer cracks. Sixteen eyes in 13 successive patients have been operated on with a single band of PTFE.

RESULTS

At the last examination, visual acuity was unchanged for 14 cases. In one case, an improvement of the vision was related to the disappearing of a macular detachment by shortening of the axial length. In one case, vision decline was associated with inadequate band position. Diplopia occurred in 2 cases. A choroidal detachment, and a vitreous haemorrhage disappeared without sequelae.

CONCLUSION

An accurate technique is necessary to avoid operative risk. Further long term studies are needed to assess the benefit of scleral reinforcement.