Measurement of early changes in anterior chamber morphology after cataract extraction measured by anterior segment optical coherence tomography.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the serial changes in anterior chamber depth (ACD) and angle parameters early after cataract surgery using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (ASOCT).

METHODS

This was a retrospective chart review, case-control study; 150 eyes of 106 patients who underwent cataract surgery. Based on ACD and angle findings, the eyes were classified into two groups, open-angle eyes (87 eyes) and narrow-angle eyes (63 eyes). ASOCT was used to measure ACD and angle parameters (angle opening distance, angle recess area, trabecular iris space area, and trabecular iris angle (TIA [1]). Serial changes in each group were measured before and 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month after cataract surgery, and the differences between the two groups were compared.

RESULTS

ACD and all angle parameters in both groups at each examination time after cataract surgery were significantly different from the preoperative values (p < 0.01). In addition, all angle parameters significantly differed between the two groups at each examination time after cataract surgery (p < 0.001). However, ACD after surgery was not significantly different, irrespective of ACD before surgery. ACD and TIA500 both showed significantly greater changes from before surgery to 1 day after surgery in narrow-angle eyes compared to open-angle eyes (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Cataract surgery increases ACD and all angle parameters early after the surgery. However, the degree of angle widening in narrow-angle eyes was not as much as that in open-angle eyes, suggesting that factors other than the lens influence the angle closure.