Preoperative and postoperative size and movements of the lens capsular bag: ultrasound biomicroscopy analysis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate capsular bag size and accommodative movement before and after cataract surgery using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT).

SETTING

Ophthalmology Unit, Fabia Mater Clinic, Rome, Italy.

DESIGN

Cohort study.

METHODS

Eyes having cataract surgery and monofocal intraocular lens (IOL) implantation were studied using UBM. The following parameters were measured preoperatively and 1, 2, and 12 months postoperatively: anterior chamber depth (ACD) (also by AS-OCT), capsular bag thickness, capsular bag diameter, ciliary ring diameter, sulcus-to-sulcus (STS) diameter, ciliary process-capsular bag distance, ciliary apex-capsular bag plane, and IOL tilting. The preoperative and postoperative capsular bag volumes were calculated at 12 months. The results were compared with the changes during accommodation.

RESULTS

The study comprised 24 eyes. With the exception of the ciliary apex-capsular bag plane, which appeared to be unmodified postoperatively, all measured parameters showed significant variation after IOL implantation. Only the ACD did not change significantly during accommodation.

CONCLUSIONS

After cataract surgery, the capsular bag stretched horizontally and with reduced vertical diameter as a result of adaptation to the implanted IOL. The capsular bag-IOL complex filled all available space, compressing the zonular fibers and almost abolishing the space between the ciliary apex and the capsular bag. There was anterior chamber deepening and a decrease in the ciliary ring diameter and STS diameter. In the absence of zonular fiber tension, the shape of the ciliary processes may be modified.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. Additional disclosures are found in the footnotes.