Analysis of Preoperative and Postoperative Anterior Chamber Depth and Lens Capsular Bag Parameters: Ultrasound Biomicroscopy-based Study

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphological change in anterior chamber depth (ACD) and various parameters of the lens capsular apparatus before and after cataract surgery using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM). Materials and Methods: This prospective, observational study enrolled 18 patients (24 eyes) with various stages of cataract. All the patients underwent complete ophthalmological examination and UBM 1 week preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively. ACD was measured. Lens capsular parameters including sulcus-to-sulcus distance, capsular bag diameter (CBD), and ciliary apex-to-capsular bag distance were also measured and compared. All the patients underwent phacoemulsification with monofocal intraocular lens implantation. Results: Eighteen patients completed a 6-month follow-up. There were 66.6% of males and 33.3% of females. among the cases, presenile cataract was seen in 29.1% patients, mature senile cataract was seen in 20.8 % patients and immature senile cataract was seen in 50% patients. 83.3% of patients showed widening of the ACD (Range 0.65–1.10 mm, P < 0.05). Sulcus-to-sulcus distance decreased by 0.3–0.5 mm in presenile cases and by 0.2–1.2 mm in senile cases ( P > 0.05). The decrease in postoperative CBD was in the range 0.84 mm–1.06 mm ( P < 0.05). The distance between the ciliary apex and capsular bag also decreased after surgery, with values in the range of 0.22–0.96 mm ( P > 0.05). Conclusion: Cataract surgery produces significant morphological changes in the anterior chamber and the lens capsular apparatus. Using UBM, this comparative analysis can help guide our approach to cataracts with complicated anterior segment, without predisposing them to glaucoma.