Anterior Chamber Morphometry before and after Cataract Surgery

Purpose: To quantify the effects of cataract surgery on the anterior chamber topography in patients with angleclosure glaucoma (PACG), open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and patients with no evidence of glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Materials and methods: 170 eyes of 119 patients undergoing phacoemulsification, followed by posterior chamber intraocular lens implantations (PC IOL), were divided into three groups as follows: PACG (50 eyes, 28 patients), POAG (40 eyes, 29 patients) and a control group (80 eyes, 62 patients). The Pentacam rotating Scheimpflug camera measured the following changes that occurred in the anterior chamber: depth (ACD), volume (ACV), angle (ACA) and central corneal thickness (CCT). Additionally, Goldmann applanation tonometry was used to evaluate intraocular pressure (IOP). All measurements were first taken preoperatively and subsequently at 3 weeks and 3 months postoperatively. Results: When measured at 3 weeks and 3 months postoperatively, the mean ACD, ACV and ACA increased in all groups (p 0.05). We also found insignificant postoperative pachymetric changes when compared to the preoperative period (p>0.05). The IOP decreased throughout all postoperative periods in all groups, though mostly in PACG eyes (p<0.05). Conclusions: Cataract surgery significantly increased ACD, ACV and ACA in all study groups. The surgery respectively decreased IOP and induced insignificant changes of CCT.