GORE-TEX VASCULAR GRAFT FOR MACULAR BUCKLING IN HIGH MYOPIA EYES.

Abstract

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. 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. 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. 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.