Long-term Effect of Scleral Encircling on Axial Elongation

To determine the long-term effect of scleral encircling on the progression of myopia.

Retrospective clinical cohort study.

Setting: Single-center academic hospital (Severance Hospital).

The study included 76 eyes of 38 patients (mean age 37.21 ± 15.76) who had undergone retinal detachment surgery with scleral encircling. Observational Procedures: Axial length was measured preoperatively, at 6 months after surgery, and at the most recent visit. Patients were followed up for at least 12 months.

The changes of axial length per month between operated eyes and contralateral eyes (control group).

The operated group showed more rapid changes in axial length from 6 months after surgery to the time of the last follow-up than did the control group (0.020 ± 0.033 mm/month vs 0.002 ± 0.002 mm/month, P = .002; mean follow-up, 26.05 ± 11.39 months). Similar trends were observed during the entire follow-up period (0.065 ± 0.062 mm/month vs 0.008 ± 0.020 mm/month, P < .001). Subgroup analysis showed that both the myopic and highly myopic group showed no significant difference of change in rate of axial length during the first 6 postoperative months (P = .267), from 6 months after surgery to the final assessment point (P = .144), or over the entire observation period (P = .507).

Encircling the sclera may accelerate progression of myopia by significantly increasing axial length. The degree of myopia itself does not contribute to a significant difference in the increased axial length.