Results

In 1970 we described the technique and preliminary results of strengthening the sclera with a strip of fascia lata in progressive myopia (Nesterov and Libenson, 1970). However, our follow-up was limited and the final results were uncertain. The present paper analyses the early and the late results in a group of myopic patients who were followed-up for periods of up to 9 years. Patients and methods The operation was performed on I84 eyes of i o8 patients aged from 8 to 52 years. The degree of myopia varied from 7 to 39 dioptres (mean i8 D), 78 eyes were astig-matic (more than i-o D cyl.), and 70 had profound degenerative changes of the choroid and the retina. The myopia was definitely progressive in i 28 eyes. Reliable information on whether the myopia was progressive or stable was not available in the remaining cases. Our operation is a modification of that of Shevelev (1930) and Curtin (I96I). The technique has been reported in detail elsewhere (Nesterov and Libenson, 1970). Briefly it is as follows. With a fascial stripper a strip of fascia lata I20 mm long and 6 mm wide is excised through a 30 mm incision in the outer surface of the thigh. The strip is cut longitudinally to make a Y-shaped transplant with one broad and two narrow arms. The conjunctival-tenon incisions are made in the superonasal, inferonasal, and temporal quadrants of the eyeball. The lateral rectus muscle is then cut off. With the help of a Curtin hook (Curtin, I96I) the graft is placed behind the globe, its narrow arms running above and below the optic nerve and then through the superonasal and inferonasal incisions. The third, broad arm runs along the horizontal meridian at the temporal side. Each of the arms is fixed to the sclera by two silk sutures. The lateral rectus is resutured to the globe and the conjunctival-tenon incisions are closed with running silk sutures