[Collagen plastic surgery in progressive myopia]

The technique of surgery is as follows: 4 implants of wetted and squeezed out collagen sponge, 7-8 x 20-22 mm in size, 2-2.5 mm thick, are introduced into Tenon's space to fill the gaps between the rectus muscles; a standard sterile hemostatic sponge or a colocyl sponge in employed. Experimental studies have shown the development of new episcleral connective tissue at the sites where the sponge has been introduced, the thickness of this tissue exceeding 1.5-2.5-fold that of the rabbit sclera. Altogether 200 eyes (100 patients) with myopia of 3.5-15 diopters have been operated on. Myopia progress has been stopped in 95% of cases; vision acuity has improved by 0.14-0.15 (p less than 0.001), clinical refraction has reduced by 0.9-1.0 diopters (p less than 0.001) in 84% of patients. A significant improvement of the hemodynamics has been achieved, as well as of the eye membrane rigidity (1.5-2-fold). The complications were only negligible diplopia early after surgery in 3 cases. Collagen plastic surgery is a simple method, marked for the availability of the implanted material; it is highly effective and in fact does not involve complications, this permitting its use in progressive myopia of more than 4.0-5.0 diopters.