Orbital decompression in the treatment of proptosis due to high axial myopia

To report the results of orbital decompression surgery for proptosis due to high axial myopia.

The clinical records and imaging of 8 consecutive patients with high axial myopia who underwent orbital decompression surgery to treat disfiguring proptosis were reviewed. Data collected included preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity, Hertel exophthalmometry, ocular motility examination findings, and surgical complications.

Eight patients (6 women) with a median presenting age of 53 years (range, 41-78 years) underwent unilateral bony orbital decompression surgery to treat proptosis due to unilateral or asymmetric high axial myopia. Indications for surgery were disfigurement in all patients and exposure keratopathy in 4 patients. All patients had more than 12 diopters of myopia on the operated side and axial lengths between 27.5 and 34.7 mm. Preoperative visual acuity was reduced in all patients owing to amblyopia and/or myopic retinal degeneration. In addition, 2 patients had mild symmetrical thyroid-related orbitopathy. After orbital decompression surgery, Hertel exophthalmometry measurements on the operated side were within 2 mm of the other side in all patients. The mean reduction in proptosis was 2.3 mm after deep lateral orbital wall decompression (3 patients), 4.3 mm after medial and lateral wall decompression (3 patients), and 5 mm after 3-wall decompression (2 patients). Five patients had a hypotropia on the operated side, and inferior rectus recession was performed in 4. Two patients underwent additional eyelid procedures. No surgical complications were observed.

Orbital decompression to reduce proptosis in patients with unilateral or asymmetric high axial myopia can improve cosmesis with low morbidity.