Anterior chamber angle and intraocular pressure changes after eventless phacoemulsification surgery in non-glaucomatous Egyptian patients.

PURPOSE: 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.

METHODS

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.

RESULTS

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.

CONCLUSION

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.