Anterior chamber depth and iris and lens position before and after phacoemulsification in eyes with a short or long axial length

Abstract

To evaluate changes in anterior segment parameters after phacoemulsification in short eyes and long eyes. Spektrum Eye Clinic, Wrocław, Poland. Prospective comparative study. Anterior segment parameters were examined before and after phacoemulsification in 3groups of eyes as follows: short (axial length [AL] <22.0mm), normal (AL 22.5 to 25.0mm), and long (AL> 25.5mm) with optical biometry based on partial coherence interferometry (IOLMaster) and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (Visante). The study comprised 20 short eyes, 22 normal eyes, and 19 long eyes. The anterior chamber angle increased after surgery in all eyes (P<.05). The relative change in anterior chamber depth (ACD) was larger in short eyes (57%) than in normal eyes (44%) or long eyes (42%) (P<.017). The change in iris position after phacoemulsification was larger in short eyes than in normal or long eyes (mean change 0.93mm, 0.70mm, and 0.43mm, respectively) (P<.017). The change in lens position after phacoemulsification in relation to the iris was smaller in short eyes (mean 0.51mm) than in normal or long eyes (mean 0.82mm and 1.10mm, respectively) (P<.017). The relative change in ACD after phacoemulsification was larger in short eyes than in normal eyes and long eyes. The largest change in iris position occurred in short eyes. The largest change in the lens versus the intraocular lens (IOL) position occurred in long eyes, with the IOL moving back from the iris. Optical biometry might underestimate the postoperative ACD. Neither author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.