Anterior chamber parameters measured by the Pentacam CES after uneventful phacoemulsification in normotensive eyes

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Abstract
We set out to quantify changes in the anterior chamber volume (ACV), anterior chamber depth (ACD) and anterior chamber angle (ACA) measurements obtained by the Pentacam rotating Scheimpflug camera following uneventful phacoemulsification surgery in normotensive eyes with open iridocorneal angles. We enrolled 44 eyes of 44 consecutive patients undergoing cataract extraction in this prospective study. Patients with a history of glaucoma, angle-closure glaucoma or any other concurrent ocular disease were excluded. A detailed eye examination including intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement was performed and ACV, ACD and inferior, superior, temporal and nasal ACA measurements were obtained in each patient eye using the Pentacam Comprehensive Eye Scanner (Pentacam CES) before and 3 months after phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation with temporal clear corneal incision. Data were compared using paired t-test and one-way anova. Mean preoperative ACV, ACD, ACA and IOP measurements were 164.7 +/- 49.8 mm(3), 3.0 +/- 0.8 mm, 35.7 +/- 10.2 degrees and 15.8 +/- 3.7 mmHg, respectively. Three months postoperatively, mean ACV, ACD, ACA and IOP measurements were 200.9 +/- 33.3 mm(3), 3.9 +/- 0.9 mm, 41.5 +/- 6.5 degrees and 13.2 +/- 3.9 mmHg, respectively. Postoperative mean ACV, ACD and ACA values in all four quadrants were significantly increased (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, respectively), whereas IOP was significantly reduced (p < 0.0001). The Pentacam CES allowed very easy, fast, automatic and non-contact quantification of the anterior chamber parameters pre- and postoperatively in all patient eyes. Measurements obtained confirm that in normotensive eyes with open iridocorneal angles, the ACV and ACD increase and the ACA widens in all quadrants 3 months after uneventful phacoemulsification and IOL implantation. These changes are accompanied by a significant fall in IOP in the short term.