Assessment of the anterior segment and intraocular pressure changes after phacoemulsification; [Evaluación del segmento anterior y cambios en la presión intraocular después de la cirugía de catarata por facoemulsificación]

Aim: To investigate the changes in anterior segment parameters and intraocular pressure after uneventful phacoemulsification. Methods: A total of 118 patients who underwent uneventful phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation were included in the study. The patients underwent a detailed ophthalmologic examination including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit-lamp biomicroscopy, gonioscopy, fundoscopy, intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement, and anterior segment evaluation at baseline (preoperatively) and one week, one, three and six months, as well as one year after surgery. Results: Fifty-nine patients were male and fifty-nine were female. Mean age was 64.9 ± 10.8 (25-89) years. Mean IOP at baseline was 16.9 ± 1.9 (11-20) mm Hg. Mean IOP was 12.9 ± 1.8 (10-18) mm Hg one year after surgery (P<0.001). Mean anterior chamber depth (ACD) was 2.50 ± 0.35 (1.71-3.45) mm at baseline and 3.98 ± 0.40 (2.98-4.60) mm one year after surgery (P<0.001). Mean anterior chamber angle (ACA) was 33.06 ± 3.91 (29.7-45) degrees at baseline and 38.6 ± 4.8 (32.2-50.2) degrees one year after surgery (P<0.001). Conclusions: This study showed that an IOP decrease. Other findings, such as anterior chamber depth, anterior chamber angle, and anterior chamber volume (ACV) increased in the short- and long-term follow-up after phacoemulsification. © 2020 Sociedad Mexicana de Oftalmología.