Posterior scleral reinforcement surgery effectively slows the rate of high myopic progression in children.

PURPOSE: To investigate the rate of axial length elongation and high myopia progression in operated eyes before and after posterior scleral reinforcement (PSR) surgery.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study. Children with pathological myopia treated with PSR at Beijing Tongren Hospital between May 2013 and May 2020 were recruited into the PSR surgery group. Children matched for age and myopia were recruited into the control group. All children underwent comprehensive ophthalmologic examinations. The presurgical and postsurgical rates of axial length elongation and myopic (spherical equivalent) progression were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 35 PSR patients were included in the study. The mean age was 6.5±3.0 years (range 2 to 14 years). Mean follow-up was 544 days (range 216 to 1657 days). The rate of axial length elongation was significantly less after posterior scleral reinforcement surgery (0.505±0.048mm per year prior to surgery; 0.382±0.045mm per year after surgery, P<0.001). The rate of myopic progression decreased after posterior scleral reinforcement surgery (1.162±0.118 D per year prior to surgery; 0.153±0.437 D per year after surgery, P=0.0239). There was no statistically significant difference in axial length elongation or myopic progression between pre-inclusion and post-inclusion in the control group. Moreover, the children's best-corrected visual acuity was significantly improved after posterior scleral reinforcement surgery (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Posterior scleral reinforcement surgery effectively decreased the rate of high myopic progression and axial length elongation in children.