article Evaluation of the role of anterior chamber depth changes in determining refractive outcome after cataract surgery

In the present study the function of anterior chamber depth (ACD) changes in determining the refractive outcome after cataract surgery has been studied comprehensively. 210 successive adult patients going through unilateral cataract surgery (phacoemulsification by a single surgeon) were included in this prospective study. Depending on axial length patients were suitably classified into 3 groups: Group 1: 26 mm (n = 70). Pre-operative and post-operative ACD were assessed on immersion ultrasound. The patients were arbitrarily reclassified into group A (≤1.7 mm) and B (>1.7 mm) based on mean ACD change. Post-operative emmetropic, myopic, or hypermetropic status was also determined in all patients. Mean ACD change in short eyes (Group 1), normal (Group 2), and long (Group 3) eyes was 1.90 mm, 1.75 mm, and 1.45 mm, respectively. The Hyperopic shift was noted when the change in ACD was less than 1.70 mm and Myopic shift was noted when the alteration in anterior chamber depth was more than 1.70 mm. Short eyes were more prone to greater post-operative ACD changes as compared to long eyes. Assessment of pre-operative ACD and its subsequent changes after cataract surgery may help in predicting postoperative refractive error. The lesser amount of change in ACD may result in a hyperopic shift and a higher amount of change would result in a myopic shift. Keywords: Anterior chamber depth, Axial length, Myopia, Hypermetropia, Cataract surgery.