title: Angle widening and alteration of ciliary process configuration after cataract surgery for primary angle closure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate quantitatively, by means of ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM), changes in the anterior segment configuration, including the ciliary processes, induced by cataract surgery in eyes with primary angle closure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective interventional case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one eyes of 31 patients with primary angle closure or primary angle-closure glaucoma were treated with cataract surgery. Before cataract surgery, 10 eyes had been treated with laser peripheral iridotomy, and 1 with laser peripheral iridoplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  Configuration of the anterior chamber was examined by means of UBM before and at 3 months after cataract surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using UBM, anterior chamber depth (ACD), angle opening distance at points 500 mum from the scleral spur (AOD500), and trabecular-ciliary process distance (TCPD) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Not only ACD and AOD500, but also TCPD, increased significantly after cataract surgery, compared with measurements obtained before surgery (P<0.001). Postoperative AOD500 was correlated significantly with postoperative TCPD (r = 0.72, P<0.001) and with the amount of change of TCPD caused by cataract surgery (Delta TCPD) (r = 0.52, P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cataract surgery attenuated anterior positioning of the ciliary processes in eyes with primary angle closure, concomitant with significant widening of the angle. Cataract surgery resulted in not only complete dissolution of lens volume and pupillary block, but also attenuation of the anterior positioning of the ciliary processes, all of which contributed to postoperative widening of the angle in eyes with primary angle closure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City General Hospital, Kobe, Japan. a-nonaka@pb3.so-net.ne.jp
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nonaka
authors.forename: Takehisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamashiro
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujihara
authors.forename: Takuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwawaki
authors.forename: Kaoruko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kurimoto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000869:Anterior Eye Segment / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D015812:Glaucoma, Angle-Closure / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D033401:Microscopy, Acoustic; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies