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 (ACD(1)), pupil-referenced (ACD(2)), and lens-referenced (ACD(3)) 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 ACD(1) (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 ACD(2), 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 ACD(3), 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.