anterior chamber depth changes after phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation

purpose: to determine anterior chamber depth (ac depth) changes during a 6 month period after phacoemulsification cataract surgery and foldable intraocular lens (iol) implantation. methods: in a cross-sectional study, 85 eyes of 85 patients were evaluated for ac depth and capsulo-rrhexis size one and six months after the procedure. results: patients included 44 male and 41 female subjects with mean age of 58.9±13 (range 21-94) years. mean ac depth was 4.48±0.54 mm and 4.39±0.64 mm one and six months after the operation, respectively (p=0.26). although larger capsulorrhexis was associated with greater decrease in ac depth at both visits, the differences were not statistically significant. conclusion: reduction in ac depth during six months after phacoemulsification and foldable iol implantation is not statistically significant. there seems to be no significant correlation between capsulo-rrhexis size and amount of ac depth reduction.