Distribution and morphology of peripheral anterior synechiae in primary angle-closure glaucoma.

We examined 101 patients (171 eyes) with primary angle-closure glaucoma by pressure gonioscopy to study the distribution and the morphology of peripheral anterior synechiae. The incidence of peripheral anterior synechiae was 86.8% in the eyes with acute primary angle-closure glaucoma, 51.4% in their fellow eyes, and 83.3% in the eyes with chronic primary angle-closure glaucoma. The peripheral anterior synechiae in the eyes with acute primary angle-closure glaucoma were wider and taller than those found in the eyes with chronic primary angle-closure glaucoma. Wide peripheral anterior synechiae were most prevalent in the superior sector and were, overall, more prevalent than the narrow type. Peripheral anterior synechiae, as a whole, were most frequently seen in the superior sector. The wide peripheral anterior synechiae were taller than the narrow type. The age of the patient and the extent of the peripheral anterior synechiae (peripheral anterior synechiae index) showed no significant correlation. A significant correlation (r = 0.68, p < 0.01) was found between the duration of acute attacks and the peripheral anterior synechiae index.