Anterior chamber angles shallowing and intraocular pressure after topical pilocarpine

Pilocarpine has been well recognized as the drug of choice for acute angle-closure glaucoma. The purpose of this study is to clarify quantitatively the change of anterior chamber angle and depth with the passage of time after pilocarpine drop administration. Chamber angles of the four quadrants and chamber depths were measured in 18 normal subjects by Scheimpflug Video Image prior to and 30, 60, and 180 minutes after administration of one drop of 4% pilocarpine in one eye, while the opposite eye served as control. The anterior chamber angle and depth showed a significant shallowing at 30, 60 and 180 minutes after 4% pilocarpine administration with a maximal effect of -3.61 degrees and -0.15 mm at 30 minutes, respectively, while the reduction of intraocular pressure reached its maximal effect at 180 minutes. These facts should be well understood in the treatment of angle-closure glaucoma.