[Scleroplasty surgery. I. Results in children]

The authors give an account on the results of scleroplastic operations (according Pivovarov) in 159 children (298 eyes). They describe in detail the surgical procedure, the mechanism of action of the operation, the fate of the implanted material. The most suitable material for scleroplastic operations in children is the irradiated human sclera which caused the minimal incidence of complications. Most frequently eyes with the diagnosis myopia progressiva 57.7% were operated, another large group were eyes with the diagnosis of myopia gravis -35.2%. The mean age at the time of operation was 11.3 +/- 3.3 years. In myopia progressiva the correction was three years after operation the same or lower in 53.3% of the operated patients, the vision was equal or better in 80% of the operated patients. In children with myopia progressiva who were operated at the age of 10-15 years, after three years no difference in vision was recorded as compared with the finding before operation; the correction changed on average only by 0.27 dioptres. This result is very satisfactory, as indication for operation was progression of myopia by at least 1 dioptre per year before operation. In myopia gravis the correction was three years after operation equal or lower in 68.4% of operated eyes, the vision was equal or better in 81.6% of the operated eyes. Reinforcement of the sclera--scleroplasty--is at the moment the only rational therapeutic method of progressing and severe myopia.