Prospective case series on trabecular-iris angle status after an acute episode of phacomorphic angle closure.

AIM To investigate the trabecular-iris angle with ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) post cataract extraction after an acute attack of phacomorphic angle closure. METHODS This prospective study involved 10 cases of phacomorphic angle closure that underwent cataract extraction and intraocular lens insertion after intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering. Apart from visual acuity and IOP, the trabecular-iris angle was measured by gonioscopy and UBM at 3 months post attack. RESULTS In 10 consecutive cases of acute phacomorphic angle closure from December 2009 to December 2010, gonioscopic findings showed peripheral anterior synechiae (PAS) ≤ 90° in 30% of phacomorphic patients and a mean Shaffer grading of (3.1±1.0). UBM showed a mean angle of (37.1°±4.5°) in the phacomorphic eye with the temporal quadrant being the most opened and (37.1°±8.0°) in the contralateral uninvolved eye. The mean time from consultation to cataract extraction was (1.4±0.7) days and the mean total duration of phacomorphic angle closure was (3.6±2.8) days but there was no correlation to the degree of angle closure on UBM (Spearman correlation P=0.7). The presenting mean IOP was (50.5±7.4) mmHg and the mean IOP at 3 months was (10.5±3.4) mmHg but there were no correlations with the degree of angle closure (Spearman correlations P=0.9). CONCLUSION An open trabecular-iris angle and normal IOP can be achieved after an acute attack of phacomorphic angle closure if cataract extraction is performed within 1 day - 2 days after IOP control. Gonioscopic findings were in agreement with UBM, which provided a more specific and object angle measurement. The superior angle is relatively more narrowed compared to the other quadrants. All contralateral eyes in this series had open angles.