Changes in anterior segment dimensions over 4 years in a cohort of Singaporean subjects with open angles

To evaluate quantitative changes in anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) parameters at 4 years in subjects with open angles on gonioscopy at baseline.

339 gonioscopically open-angle subjects aged >50 years underwent AS-OCT imaging (Visante, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, California, USA) at baseline and at 4 years. Customised software was used to analyse images. Linear regression was performed to assess baseline predictors of change in mean trabecular iris space area (TISA).

Of the 339 subjects, 204 (61%) had good images for analysis. The mean age at baseline was 60 (SD 6.42) years; 55.4% were women and 87.7% were Chinese. Overall, there was a decrease in anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chamber area (ACA), anterior chamber volume (ACV) and angle opening distance at 500/750 µm, TISA 500/750 µm, iris thickness at 2000 µm and iris area in both nasal and temporal quadrants (p<0.05) at 4 years. There was an increase in iris curvature (ICURV) and lens vault (LV) (p<0.05). With univariate analysis, shorter axial length (AxL), shallower ACD, greater LV, smaller ACA/ACV and larger mean ICURV at baseline were associated with less change in TISA750 at follow-up. On multivariate analysis, only baseline mean ICURV and shorter AxL were predictive of less change in TISA750 at 4 years.

Angle width significantly decreased; ICURV and LV increased in subjects with gonioscopically open angles followed at 4 years. Eyes with shorter AxL and greater ICURV at baseline had lesser decrease in angle width.