A complication of scleral expansion surgery for treatment of presbyopia.
OBJECTIVE
To report a patient who developed complications from an experimental technique using scleral expansion to treat presbyopia.


METHODS
Case report of a 46-year-old woman who underwent scleral expansion surgery on her right eye. Postoperatively, the patient developed chronic pain and swelling that necessitated removal of the scleral expanders.


RESULTS
After removal of the scleral expanders, the patient demonstrated a -1.4 diopter myopic shift in the right eye relative to her preoperative refraction. Axial length of the right eye was 1.15 mm longer than of the left, whereas preoperative axial lengths were equal.


CONCLUSIONS
This patient developed scleral thinning with resultant axial lengthening and myopic shift, akin to the phenomenon observed with scleral buckles used to treat retinal detachments. We believe this was responsible for improved near vision in her right eye, rather than any increased accommodative potential purported to result from this operation.
Singh
G
G
Ophthalmology Department, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, USA.
Chalfin
S
S
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000209:etiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D011305:Presbyopia / Q000601:surgery*; D012590:Sclera / Q000601:surgery*; D015626:Tissue Expansion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity