Changes in axial length after retinal detachment surgery.

Abstract

To evaluate changes in axial length and corneal curvature after an encircling procedure combined with segmental buckling. We prospectively analysed cases with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment treated with an encircling band and scleral buckling surgery, comparing the pre-and postoperative ultrasonographic measurements of axial length and corneal curvature, and patients' age and sex in relation to the axial length of the eyeballs. We studied 74 patients (25 female, 49 male, aged 14-78 years, mean 46.7 years), who underwent retinal detachment surgery in 1995 and 1996. Axial eye length was significantly increased by surgery (median 0.77 mm one month after surgery). One year after treatment the elongation of the eye had decreased by 0.20 mm. The average increase of corneal curvature was 0.22 D one month after surgery, and 0.43 D at one year. The distribution of axial length showed a significant preponderance of eyes with a longer axial length among males. Encircling with a scleral buckling procedure with moderate indentation causes axial elongation of the eye.