Ultrasound biomicroscopic characteristics of the anterior segment in primary congenital glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate qualitatively and quantitatively ultrasound biomicroscopic (UBM) features of the anterior segment in eyes with primary congenital glaucoma.

METHODS

UBM of 45 eyes of patients with primary congenital glaucoma (39 previously operated and 6 unoperated eyes) and 28 control eyes were included in this study. UBM parameters were correlated with ocular biometry. Iris thickness, ciliary body thickness, ciliary body-lens distance, posterior chamber depth, and anterior chamber angle were measured and compared with control eyes. Other features of the anterior segment were qualitatively evaluated.

RESULTS

A thin, stretched-out ciliary body and abnormal tissue at the iridocorneal angle were features seen in 90% of UBM scans. Iris thickness and stretched zonules correlated with the axial length (r = -0.6 and 0.58, respectively; p = 0.04) but not with the mean corneal diameter. Abnormal insertion of the ciliary body to the posterior surface of the iris was noted in eight eyes (17%).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study documents characteristic anterior segment dysplasia and ciliary body anomalies in patients with primary congenital glaucoma.