Long-term Effect of Scleral Encircling on Axial Elongation

Purpose: To determine the long-term effect of scleral encircling on the progression of myopia. Design: Retrospective clinical cohort study. Methods: SETTING: Single-center academic hospital (Severance Hospital). STUDY POPULATION: 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. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The changes of axial length per month between operated eyes and contralateral eyes (control group). Results: 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). Conclusions: 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.