title: GORE-TEX VASCULAR GRAFT FOR MACULAR BUCKLING IN HIGH MYOPIA EYES.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate a new application of an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore-Tex) vascular graft for use in macular buckling surgery for treatment of highly myopic eyes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Gore-Tex vascular graft was used as a macular buckling material in eight consecutive cases of myopic macular diseases which included fovea detachment, foveoschisis, or macular hole retinal detachment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Retinal reattachment was achieved in all cases except one which had partial resolution (88%). The postoperative best-corrected visual acuity ranged from 20/2000 to 20/100 depending on the degree preexisting macular degeneration, and significant better than the preoperative best-corrected visual acuity (P = 0.048, paired t-test). During the follow-up period, which ranged from 8 months to 3 years, no eye developed buckle-related complications such as infection or dislocation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The initial pilot results from this series using a Gore-Tex graft for macular buckling is promising. Throughout the follow-up period, the Gore-Tex was well tolerated in the highly myopic eyes. Large scale and long-term follow-up is warranted.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China; and †Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Pei-Chang
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jiunn-Jye
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sheu
authors.forename: Yi-Hao
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yung-Jen
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chih-Hsin
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jong-Jer
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chih-Ling
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chueh-Tan
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hsi-Kung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kuo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D047728:Myopia, Degenerative / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012590:Sclera / Q000601:surgery*; D012591:Scleral Buckling; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene