Clinical Associations Between Changes In Anterior Chamber Depth And Intraocular Pressure After Routine Cataract Surgery

To explore the significance of any relationship between change in anterior chamber depth (ΔACD) and change in measured intraocular pressure (ΔIOP) in cases that underwent uneventful routine phacoemulsification in patients with clear unremarkable corneas.

Kyiv City Clinical Ophthalmological Hospital “Eye Microsurgery Center”, Ukraine

Anterior chamber depth (mm) was assessed with IOLMaster700 (Zeiss) and intraocular pressure (mmHg) was assessed using pneumotonometer (Tomey FT-1000, Tomey Corp.) between one and two months postop following routine phacoemulsification with nontoric IOL implantation. All surgeries were performed under topical anaesthesia (2.2mm incision at 12o’clock), postop injection of dexamethasone (subconjunctival) and betamethasone (parabulbar), topical levofloxacin, oftan-dexamethason, indomethacin, dexpanthenol, trehalose and hyaluronic acid.

In 89 cases (1eye/patient), the changes in anterior chamber depth (ΔACD = value at 1 month – value at 2 months) and intraocular pressure (ΔIOP= value at 1 month – value at 2 months) was correlated with the corresponding values at 1 month (x).

These associations are best described as follows

• ΔACD = 0.63x-2.87 (r=0.554, n=89, p<0.01)
• ΔIOP = 0.40x-6.35 (r=0.530, n=89, p<0.01)

A significant correlation was not revealed between ΔACD and ΔIOP.   

Changes in anterior chamber depth and intraocular pressure between periods following uneventful routine phacoemulsification are predictable. A change in the anterior chamber depth is not a likely cause of any change in intraocular pressure in uncomplicated pseudophakia.