Ethnic differences in intraocular pressure reduction and changes in anterior segment biometric parameters following cataract surgery by phacoemulsification

Abstract

Background: To determine the association between ethnicity and changes in intraocular pressure and anterior segment biometric parameters following cataract surgery by phacoemulsification in nonglaucomatous subjects.

Design: Prospective clinical cohort study.

Participants: Caucasian and Asian subjects.

Methods: Customized software was used to calculate parameters from anterior segment optical coherence tomography images obtained preoperatively and at 3 months following cataract surgery by phacoemulsification. The percentage changes in intraocular pressure and anterior segment biometric parameters following cataract surgery by phacoemulsification were modelled as a function of ethnicity using linear mixed-effects regression, a likelihood ratio test function that adjusted for age, sex and the use of both eyes in the same subject, to determine the association between ethnicity and postoperative outcomes.

Main outcome measures: Intraocular pressure, angle opening distance, anterior chamber depth, anterior chamber volume, and angle recess area.

Results: Fifty Asian and 23 Caucasian nonglaucomatous eyes were analysed. Postoperative decrease in intraocular pressure and increases in angle opening distance, anterior chamber depth, anterior chamber volume and angle recess area were observed within each ethnic group (P < 0.005). The percent changes in intraocular pressure, angle opening distance, anterior chamber depth, anterior chamber volume and angle recess area did not differ between ethnic groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusions: In this study, regardless of ethnic classification, subjects who received cataract surgery by phacoemulsification experienced a significant postoperative decrease in intraocular pressure and increases in angle opening distance, anterior chamber depth, anterior chamber volume and angle recess area. The percent changes in postoperative outcomes did not differ significantly by ethnicity.