Longitudinal changes in anterior chamber configuration in eyes with open-angle glaucoma and associated factors.

PURPOSE

To investigate longitudinal changes in anterior chamber depth (ACD) and anterior chamber angle (ACA) and the associated factors in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma using the scanning peripheral ACD analyzer.

METHODS

The scanning peripheral ACD analyzer evaluated ACD by numeric grade (ACDG 1 to 12) and ACA twice in 2003 and 2008. The exclusion criteria were as follows: history of laser or incisional surgery, other ocular diseases that may affect visual field, visual acuity less than 20/30, and treatment with pilocarpine ophthalmic solution. Patients with pseudophakic eye were used as control.

RESULTS

One hundred fifty-seven patients with glaucoma and 26 patients with pseudophakic eye were subjected to the analysis. ACDG and ACA of patients with glaucoma were significantly decreased from 7.2±2.3 to 6.5±2.1 (P<0.001) and from 34.2±12.6 to 28.1±10.3 degrees (P<0.0001), respectively, whereas patients with cataract surgery showed no significant changes in ACDG and ACA. The change in ACD was greater at the peripheral region than at the central region. The decrease in ACDG was significantly associated with deep initial ACDG and wide ACA. Patients having shallow ACDG and narrow ACA showed more rapid deterioration of visual field than those having deep ACDG and wide ACA.

CONCLUSIONS

ACDG and ACA decreased with age, and initial ACDG and ACA were related to the progression of open-angle glaucoma.