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Shallower anterior chamber depth, aqueous depth linked to endothelial cell loss
Shallower preoperative anterior chamber depth and aqueous depth were significantly correlated with more long-term endothelial cell loss in patients with iris-fixated phakic IOLs, according to a study.
Ninety eyes of 57 patients who underwent phakic IOL implantation were included in the retrospective study. The follow-up period averaged 11.8 years, ranging from 9.1 to 17.3 years. The mean change in endothelial cell density was –894 cells/mm2.
In the eyes of patients with preoperative anterior chamber depth of 3.2 mm or less, the mean endothelial cell density change from baseline was –53.5% compared to –26% in eyes with an anterior chamber depth between 3.21 mm and 3.49 mm. The eyes of patients with an anterior chamber depth of 3.5 mm or greater had a decrease of –5.2%. These differences between the groups were statistically significant (P < .001).
There was no significant endothelial cell loss in eyes with an anterior chamber depth of 3.5 mm or greater, but 84% of eyes with an anterior chamber depth of 3.2 mm or less experienced significant endothelial cell loss (P < .001).
Eyes with significant endothelial cell loss had a mean preoperative anterior chamber depth of 3.14 mm compared with 3.62 mm in eyes without significant endothelial cell loss (P < .001), and a mean aqueous depth of 2.6 mm compared with 3.1 mm (P < .001)
Based on these results, “Minimum [anterior chamber depth] of 3.35 mm or [aqueous depth] of 2.75 mm are recommended for better long-term endothelial safety,” the study authors wrote. – by Earl Holland
Disclosure: Eldanasoury reports he is a consultant for STAAR Surgical, Nidek and PhysIOL.