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.