AIM: To investigate the safety and efficacy of fetal umbilical cord in posteriorscleral reinforcement surgery to treat pathologic myopia.

METHODS: Totally 100 cases(136 eyes)with pathologic myopia were performed surgery after the posterior scleral reinforcement method with single band of rewatered fetal umbilical cord which had dehydration of alcohol fixation treatment. Postoperative visual acuity, diopter, eye axis and complications were observed. And the follow-up time lasted for 1.5 years.

RESULTS: After surgery, visual acuity of myopia stable or decreased accounted for 91.2%; corrected visual acuity was stable or improved after 0.5,1,1.5 years, third year respectively in 125 eyes(91.9%), 127 eyes(93.4%)and 124 eyes(91.2%); preoperative axial length of patients was 29.81±1.87mm while postoperative axial length after the 0.5,1,1.5 years respectively were 29.82±1.90mm, 29.83±1.79mm, 29.79±2.06mm. Compared with the preoperative axial length, there was no significant difference(P>0.05). 3 cases had postoperative transient diplopia. No retinal detachment, vitrectomy hemorrhage, rejection and other serious complications occurred.

CONCLUSION: Posterior scleral reinforcement surgery with fetal umbilical cord is a safe and effective treatment method which can prevent the development of myopia while the long-term effects need further observation.