Effects of Scleral Buckling on Eyeball in Young Rabbits

Choi, Mi Young; Cho, Sang Hyung

Abstract

There has been a series of reports indicating that scleral buckling[SB] surgery may induce high myopia in advanced retinopathy of prematurity. The mechanism of SB on refraction, however, has not been clearly known. We investigated the effects of SB on eyeball in young rabbits, including mechanism of refractive change. In 9 rabbits with 5 weeks old[Group A]and 11 rabbits with 8 weeks old[Group B], SB was performed for right eyes of all rabbits with encircling band, 2.5 mm in width.Left eyes of these were followed up for control group. Spherical equivalent, corneal power, and axial length were measured before SB and at 2, 4, and 8 weeks postoperatively. We compared these measures between experimental and control groups, and analyzed the influence of age at operation. In control group, corneal refractive power was decreased, axial length was increased, and spherical equivalent developed emmetropization in aging. High myopia was developed in all eyes with SB, and the increase of axial length was the major factor in myopia.These changes were greater in group A than group B.In experimental group, the degree of myopia was increased at 4 and 8 weeks postoperatively, but corneal power and axial length were not statistically changed. In conclusion, the SB in younger rabbits induced higher degree of axial myopia.These findings may suggest that SB in infant could induce significant axial myopia and secondary amblyopia, especially younger age.