CHANGES IN ANTERIOR-CHAMBER DEPTH AND INTRAOCULAR-PRESSURE AFTER PHACOEMULSIFICATION AND POSTERIOR CHAMBER INTRAOCULAR-LENS IMPLANTATION

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To determine anterior chamber depth (ACD) an d intraocular pressure (IOP) following uncomplicated cataract extracti on with phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens (IO L) implantation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The ACDs and IOPs of 56 patient s were prospectively evaluated after phacoemulsification and IOL impla ntation. Measurements of ACD were performed using ultrasonography and measurements of IOP were performed using a Goldmann applanation tonome ter preoperatively and at 1 week and 1, 3, 6, and 3 months postoperati vely. RESULTS: The mean IOP had decreased and the mean ACD had increas ed significantly by 1 month postoperatively (P < .03 and P < .01, resp ectively). Between 1 and 3 months, a significant increase in ACD (P < .05) and decrease in IOP (P < .01) was also observed. The ACD peaked ( 3.51 +/- 0.45 mm) and the IOP reached its lowest value (10.05 +/- 2.23 mm Hg) at 3 months postoperatively. The reduction in IOP and increase in ACD remained significant during the follow-up period, compared wit h the preoperative values. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that incr eases in ACD and decreases in IOP occur in selected patients after unc omplicated cataract extraction by phacoemulsification with IOL implant ation.