Changes in symmetry of anterior chamber following routine cataract surgery in non-glaucomatous eyes

Background:To assess minimum and maximum changes in anterior chamber dimensions following routine cataract surgery in non-glaucomatous eyes.Methods:Forty-two eyes(42 participants)underwent routine cataract surgery with same surgeon and were assessed preoperatively,1,3,6 and 12 months postoperatively.Primary outcome measure:Angle-to-angle diameter(AAD)(at 0-180°,45-225°,90-270°,135-315°),Anterior-chamber-angle(ACA)(at 0°,45°,90°,135°,180°,225°,270° and 315°)and central anterior chamber depth(ACD)at all visits.Secondary outcome measures:relationship to axial length(AL).Results:The mean AAD and ACA increased post-operatively in all meridians at all visits postoperatively.At 12 months,there was a maximum change in AAD in horizontal meridian(506.55±468.71μm)and least in vertical meridian(256.31±1082.3μm).The mean percentage increase in ACA postoperatively was least at 90o(5%increase compared to 29–35%elsewhere).Central ACD deepened at all postoperative visits and this did not change over 12 months.There was no correlation between AAD,ACA and ACD with AL at any visit.Conclusion:The AAD,ACA and ACD increases following cataract surgery in non-glaucomatous eyes,but at 12 months increase in AAD is least in vertical compared to horizontal meridian.Also,ACA was narrower(only 5%increase)superiorly compared to elsewhere(29–35%increase in ACA).This may have implications with regards to surgeries performed in the anterior chamber and corneal endothelial cell loss.