Ultrasonographic study of the effect of different miotics on the eye components.

The effect of topical instillations of carbachol 3%, pilocarpine 2%, aceclidine 2%, aceclidine 2%-adrenaline 1%, and of the Ocusert delivery system was determined and compared in 151 eyes. The depth of the anterior chamber, the thickness and the position of the lens, the length of the vitreous and the refraction were studied. Aceclidine has negligible side effects on the ocular components (maximal change of the anterior chamber 0.20 mm; maximal change of the lens thickness 0.14 mm; maximal myopisation: -1.5 delta. Carbachol has the strongest side effects (maximal change of the anterior chamber 0.80 mm; maximal change of the lens thickness 0.80 mm; maximal myopisation -11.50 delta). Carbachol and pilocarpine may cause an important forward displacement of the lens with the risk of an angle-closure glaucoma in an eye with shallow anterior chamber.