Anterior Segment Study with the Pentacam Scheimpflug Camera in Refractive Surgery Candidates

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anterior segment measurements according to refractive status in a sample of the Iranian population. SETTING: Rassoul Akram Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, refractive surgery candidates were assigned according to the refractive error to one of three groups : emmetropia, myopia, and hyperopia. Myopic eyes were further divided to four subgroups : simple myopic group, simple myopic astigmatism group, high myopic group, and high myopia with astigmatism group. Anterior segment measurements with the Pentacam Scheimpflug system were performed in the right eye of all subjects. RESULTS: The study sample was comprised of 283 subjects with a mean age of 29.1 ± 7.5 (standard deviation) years. Mean keratometry reading, Anterior chamber depth (ACD) and volume measurements were significantly higher in the myopic group and mean keratometry reading and anterior chamber angle measurements were significantly lower in the hyperopic group (P < 0.05, all comparisons). Maximum anterior elevation (AE(max)) and maximum posterior elevation (PE(max)), Q value, progression index, minimum corneal thickness, and corneal volume measurements were similar for all groups (P > 0.05, all comparisons). In the myopic subgroups, AE(max) and PE(max) and maximum keratometry (K(max)) were significantly higher, and ACD was lower in the astigmatic groups (P < 0.05, all comparisons). The Q value was less negative in low myopia (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Myopic eyes had steeper corneas than hyperopic eyes and anterior chamber measurements were significantly higher in the myopic eyes. In myopic eyes, AE(max) and PE(max) and K(max) measurements were higher, and ACD measurements were lower in the astigmatic groups.