[Peripheral segments of the fundus oculi in highly myopic patients after scleroplasty]

Prolonged (3 to 9 years) follow-up of 219 patients with high rapidly progressing myopia, treated with scleroplasty, has demonstrated an inhibiting effect of this surgery on the development and progress of peripheral vitreochorioretinal dystrophies: a negative time course on the fundus oculi periphery of the operated on eye was observed in 21.5 percent of patients and that of the intact eye in 35.1 percent of patients. Scleroplasty, carried out at the age of 9-11 and 15-17, was found the most effective from the viewpoint of preventing the peripheral vitreochorioretinal dystrophies. Reduced incidence of such dystrophies on the operated on eyes may be explained by the favorable effect of surgery, i.e. scleral distension arrest or delay, improved hemodynamics and trophics of ocular tissues. The results helped define the indications to scleroplasty with due regard for the patient's age and fundus oculi status.