Exploring the Occurrence Mechanisms of Acute Primary Angle Closure by Comparative Analysis of Ultrasound Biomicroscopic Data of the Attack and Fellow Eyes

PURPOSE: To explore the anatomical characteristics and occurrence mechanisms of acute primary angle closure (APAC) by comparing the quantitative data of UBM images of the APAC and fellow eyes. METHODS: 131 patients (262 eyes) were studied over five years by retrospective analysis. The quantitative data from UBM images including angle opening distance at 500 μm (AOD500), trabecular-iris angle (TIA), iris convexity (IC), iris span (IS), iris-lens angle (ILA), iris-lens contact distance (ILCD), iris-ciliary process angle (ICPA), and limbus-ciliary body angle (LCBA) were retrospectively recorded; comparative analysis of the APAC and fellow eyes was performed. RESULTS: The superior, inferior, nasal, temporal, and mean AOD500, TIA, IC, and LCBA (P < 0.001) were significantly smaller in APAC than in fellow eyes. Values of the lens thickness (LT), lens/axial length factor (LAF), lens position (LP), and relative lens position (RLP) were lower in APAC than in fellow eyes (P = 0.021; P = 0.025; P < 0.001; and P < 0.001). In APAC eyes, AOD500 was significantly positively correlated with IC, ILCD, and LCBA; TIA was significantly positively significantly correlated with IC, ILCD, and LCBA. In fellow eyes, AOD500 was significantly negatively correlated with ILA and significantly positively correlated with ILCD, ICPA, LCBA, axial length (AL), central anterior chamber depth (CACD), and LP; TIA was significantly negatively correlated with ILA and significantly positively correlated with IS, ILCD, ICPA, LCBA, AL, CACD, LP, and RLP. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple nonpupillary block factors (plateau iris, anterior attachment and insertion of the iris root, anterior shift of the lens, and anterior rotation of the ciliary body) promote the occurrence of APAC, and abnormal positional relationships of the iris, ciliary body, and lens may contribute to APAC.