Evaluation of anterior chamber morphology following scleral buckling with Pentacam

To evaluate anterior segment parameter changes following scleral buckling (SB) surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) using the Pentacam Scheimpflug system.

Twenty-eight phakic eyes of 28 patients who underwent SB surgery for RDD were included. The anterior chamber volume (ACV), central anterior chamber depth (CACD), mean anterior chamber angle (ACA) and ACA in a specific position (buckle quadrant), and central corneal thickness (CCT) were evaluated preoperatively and at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 and 3 months postoperatively by an anterior Pentacam Scheimpflug method.

The ACV parameters were significantly decreased compared with preoperative levels at 1 day after SB surgery (P = 0.0004), but had no significant differences at 1 week, and 1 and 3 months (P > 0.05). The mean intraocular pressure (IOP) at 1 day was significantly higher than the preoperative level, but no subsequent significant difference was noted between the preoperative IOP and that at 1 week and 1 and 3 months postoperatively (P > 0.05). The CCT at 1 day after surgery increased significantly (P = 0.0122) and subsequently returned to the normal level postoperatively at 1 week and remained stable until 3 months (P > 0.05). The degree of postoperative ACA displayed different changes in the different quadrants and there was a significant increase in the ACA of the buckle quadrants at 1 day (P < 0.0001), 1 week (P = 0.02), and 1 month (P = 0.0266) after surgery, returning to the normal level at 3 months.

The changes of anterior chamber parameters after SB can be demonstrated by Pentacam both objectively and quantitatively. The ACV and CCT changes were mild and resumed their preoperative parameters after 1 week, while the increase of the ACA at the buckle quadrant returned to normal after 3 months. SB surgeries without encircling or conducted with radial buckling might decrease anterior chamber change.