BACKGROUND OR PURPOSE: A series of encouraging reports over the past decade indicate that scleral buckling (SB) surgery may lessen or eliminate vitreoretinal traction in advanced retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). The effects of SB surgery on refraction and ocular growth, however, have not been demonstrated. We investigated the effects of postoperative removal of buckle in infants whose retinas were reattached in stage 4 ROP.

Methods: Selected for study were 6 eyes of 3 patients whose retinas had been reattached by placing an encircling buckle, 2.5 mm in width, around the eye and whose buckles were subsequently removed. Axial lengths and refractive errors were compared before and after removal of the buckles. The patients were examined for at least 3 years after removal.

Results: There was high myopia in all eyes treated for stage 4 ROP with SB. All retinas remained attached after removal of the buckle. Although there was a variable degree of increase in axial length, myopic refractive error tended to decrease after removal of the buckle.

Conclusions: There was some decrease in degree of myopia without resulting in retinal detachment or continued vitreous traction after buckle removal following SB surgery for ROP.