Changes in symmetry of anterior chamber following routine cataract surgery in non-glaucomatous eyes

BACKGROUND: To assess minimum and maximum changes in anterior chamber dimensions following routine cataract surgery in non-glaucomatous eyes. METHODS: Forty-two eyes (42 participants) underwent routine cataract surgery with same surgeon and were assessed preoperatively, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Primary outcome measure: Angle-to-angle diameter (AAD) (at 0-180(o), 45-225(o), 90-270(o), 135-315(o)), Anterior-chamber-angle (ACA) (at 0(o), 45(o), 90(o), 135(o), 180(o), 225(o), 270(o) and 315(o)) and central anterior chamber depth (ACD) at all visits. Secondary outcome measures: relationship to axial length (AL). RESULTS: The mean AAD and ACA increased post-operatively in all meridians at all visits postoperatively. At 12 months, there was a maximum change in AAD in horizontal meridian (506.55 ± 468.71 μm) and least in vertical meridian (256.31 ± 1082.3 μm). The mean percentage increase in ACA postoperatively was least at 90(o) (5% increase compared to 29–35% elsewhere). Central ACD deepened at all postoperative visits and this did not change over 12 months. There was no correlation between AAD, ACA and ACD with AL at any visit. CONCLUSION: The AAD, ACA and ACD increases following cataract surgery in non-glaucomatous eyes, but at 12 months increase in AAD is least in vertical compared to horizontal meridian. Also, ACA was narrower (only 5% increase) superiorly compared to elsewhere (29–35% increase in ACA). This may have implications with regards to surgeries performed in the anterior chamber and corneal endothelial cell loss.