Study finds changes in anterior segment parameters post-cataract surgery in this patient cohort

Anterior chamber depth (ACD) and iridocorneal parameters in anterior segment optical coherence tomography were significantly greater 3 months after cataract surgery in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) compared with a control group.

The prospective, comparative study included 98 patients who had undergone phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation: 36 eyes had PEX, 16 eyes had PEX with glaucoma (PEXG), and 46 eyes served as a control cohort.

Researchers assessed anterior chamber parameters before surgery and at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively, looking at:

• ACD
• Angle opening distance (AOD500/750)
• Trabecular-iris space area (TISA500/750)
• Trabecular-iris angle (TIA500/750)
• Lens vault (LV)

AOD500/750 and TISA500/750 were significantly smaller, while LV was significantly greater preoperatively in PEX and PEXG eyes than in controls.

Three months postoperatively, all iridocorneal parameters and ACD were significantly greater in all study groups. In the PEX group, ACD and LV significantly increased between 1 and 3 months postoperatively and both remained stable in the control group.

“Relative increases” in ACD, AOD500, TISA750, and TIA500/750 were significantly higher in the PEX and PEXG groups.

“Significantly greater deepening of anterior chamber and opening of the iridocorneal angle may be a reason for different refractive outcomes and IOP control in patients with PEX and PEXG after routine cataract surgery,” the authors concluded.

Reference

Wlaź A, Kustra A, Aung T, Żarnowski T. Evaluation of changes of anterior segment parameters in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome after cataract surgery using anterior segment optical coherence tomography. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):8279. doi:10.1038/s41598-58564-z