Anterior segment optical coherence tomography measurement of anterior chamber depth and angle changes after phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation

Purpose

To use anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) to evaluate anterior chamber depth (ACD) and angle after phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.

Setting

Department of Ophthalmology, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey.

Methods

Forty-seven eyes (37 patients) had uneventful phacoemulsification and IOL implantation through a clear corneal incision. Anterior segment OCT was performed preoperatively and 1 week and 1 month postoperatively. The angle-referenced (ACD₁), pupil-referenced (ACD₂), and lens-referenced (ACD₃) ACDs, crystalline lens rise (CLR), pseudophakic posterior chamber depth (PPCD), and nasal and temporal iridocorneal angles were measured. Statistical analysis was by a 1-way analysis of variance and Pearson correlation analysis.

Results

The mean age of patients was 70 years ± 10.17 (SD). The mean ACD₁ (mean increase) was 3.06 ± 0.25 mm preoperatively, 3.16 ± 0.22 mm at 1 week (0.1 mm), and 3.16 ± 0.19 mm at 1 month (0.1 mm); the mean ACD₂, 2.76 ± 0.47 mm preoperatively, 3.62 ± 0.24 mm at 1 week (0.86 mm), and 3.63 ± 0.20 mm (0.87 mm) at 1 month; and the mean ACD₃, 2.54 ± 0.46 mm preoperatively, 3.97 ± 0.28 mm at 1 week (1.43 mm), and 3.91 ± 0.25 mm at 1 month (1.37 mm). The mean CLR was 0.497 ± 0.363 mm and the mean PPCD, 0.322 ± 0.150 mm. The increase in nasal and temporal iridocorneal angles was statistically significant at both postoperative examinations (P<.01).

Conclusion

Deepening of the anterior chamber and widening of the nasal and temporal angles after cataract extraction was shown on AS-OCT.