title: The effects of Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy on anterior segment parameters in patients with posterior capsular opacification.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim was to investigate the effects of neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser capsulotomy on the main numerical parameters of the anterior segment with Pentacam in patients with opacification of the posterior capsule.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty eyes of 30 patients (19 male, mean age 66.9 ± 8.1 years) with visually significant posterior capsular opacification were enrolled. Patients had undergone phacoemulsification surgery with three-piece intraocular lens (Sensar, AMO, USA) implantation. Full ocular examination was performed before and after capsulotomy. Intraocular pressure (Goldmann applanation tonometry) and refractive changes were measured. Pentacam measurements of the patients before and one week and one month after capsulotomy were obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean visual acuity (logMAR) improved pre-operatively (0.50 ± 0.36) to one week (0.04 ± 0.07) and one month after capsulotomy (0.03 ± 0.06; p < 0.001). Mean spherical and cylindrical powers were 0.50 ± 0.98 DS and -1.61 ± 1.00 DC before the procedure and 0.10 ± 0.80 DS and -0.92 ± 0.66 DC at one month, respectively. There was a significant decrease in cylindrical errors (p = 0.001) and a myopic shift in spherical errors (p = 0.01) after the procedure. Mean anterior chamber depth (ACD) was 4.26 ± 0.63 mm before the procedure, 3.73 ± 0.56 mm at one week and 3.75 ± 0.56 mm at one month. The decrements in anterior chamber depth were significant (p < 0.001). The mean of the anterior chamber angle measurements was 43.41 ± 6.87 degrees before the procedure, increased to 45.56 ± 7.01 degrees at one week and decreased to 44.56 ± 6.13 degrees at one month. The increments in anterior chamber angle at the first week of the procedure were significant (p = 0.01). Mean central corneal thickness was 549.60 ± 41.70 μm before the procedure, increased to 551.40 ± 39.72 μm at one week and decreased to 542.30 ± 35.48 μm at one month. The decrements in central corneal thickness were significant (p = 0.048).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mean anterior chamber depth decreased by approximately 0.5 mm after capsulotomy. This decrement in anterior chamber depth might be a clue for associated complications, such as unwelcome refractive errors, changes at intraocular lens position, post-procedure intraocular pressure increases and acute glaucoma.
authors.affiliation: Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey. zaferdr2000@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Zafer
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Oztas
authors.forename: Melis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palamar
authors.forename: Filiz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Afrashi
authors.forename: Ayse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yagci
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000869:Anterior Eye Segment / Q000473:pathology*; D058442:Capsule Opacification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence
keywords: Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy; Pentacam; anterior segment; posterior capsular opacification