Anterior chamber angle and intraocular pressure changes after eventless phacoemulsification surgery in...

The purpose was to evaluate the angle of the anterior chamber (ACA) and intraocular pressure (IOP) changes following eventless phacoemulsification surgery done for non-glaucomatous Egyptian patients.

A prospective, interventional study involved 126 cataractous patients undergoing phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation. Patients were investigated for ACA and IOP preoperatively and postoperatively at 1 month and 6 months. Anterior chamber angles were evaluated by Scheimpflug camera, and IOP was measured by Goldmann applanation tonometer.

A total of 144 eyes from 126 patients were enrolled: 65 males and 79 females; mean age was 59.72 years. At 6 months after phacoemulsification, there was highly significant decrease in IOP (P = 0) and anterior chamber angle (P = 0). The change in IOP did not correlate statistically with patient age, preoperative IOP, preoperative ACA or ACA widening.

Phacoemulsification reduced significantly IOP which was maintained for 6 months and widened significantly the anterior chamber angle. None of the studied parameters in our study has proved to be a reliable predictive factor to the amount of IOP drop after phacoemulsification.