AIM: To investigate the corneal curvature and refractive changes after microscopically extraocular muscle surgery in adults.

METHODS: To observe 62 cases of 85 eyes underwent microscopic extraocular muscle surgery in the Second People's Hospital of Yunnan Province from December 2016 to May 2017, age 18 to 43, according to the surgical method, patients were divided into horizontal rectus surgery: Ⅰ group(simple migration group)32 eyes, Ⅱ group(rectus monocular migration combined with its antagonist muscle excision group)34 eyes, the oblique muscle group: Ⅲ group(single oblique muscle tendon broken group)10 eyes, Ⅳ group(oblique muscle transposition group)9 eyes; Subjective optometry was performed preoperatively and postoperatively at 1d, 1wk, 1mo, 3mo and 6mo, respectively, to obtain the refractive state changes and the curvature value of the anterior surface of the cornea(0-3mm, 5mm, 7mm)collected by corneal topography. The dynamic changes of the refractive state and corneal morphology of the patients in each group at different time points were compared. Anova and LSD-t test were used for comparison among time points and within each group.

RESULTS: Changes of corneal curvature in horizontal rectus muscle can be induced in a short period after the operation, which is limited to the central 5mm area of the cornea, and basically restored to the preoperative level 1mo after the operation. There was no significant effect on corneal curvature after inferior oblique operation. Astigmatism value increased in the early postoperative period of horizontal rectus muscle; Myopic drift occurred and recovered to preoperative level 1mo after surgery. After the operation of the inferior oblique muscle, there was no significant change in the spheroscopy and astigmatism.

CONCLUSION:Corneal curvature and refractive changes may occur after extraocular muscle in adults.