Morphologic changes in the anterior chamber in patients with cortical or nuclear age-related cataract

PURPOSE: To assess and compare the morphologic changes in the anterior segment in eyes with nuclear or cortical age-related cataract using Scheimpflug imaging. SETTING: Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China. DESIGN: Case-control study. METHODS: Patients with nuclear or cortical age-related cataract were recruited. The grade of nuclear opalescence or cortical opacity was assessed using the Lens Opacities Classification System III (LOCS III). A group of elderly subjects with a clear lens and normal vision served as the control group. Anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chamber volume (ACV), and lens thickness were evaluated using Scheimpflug imaging (Pentacam). RESULTS: Two hundred sixty-nine patients (330 eyes) were recruited. Thirty eyes were enrolled for each nuclear opalescence and cortical grade. The control group comprised 30 eyes (19 subjects). In eyes with age-related cataract, lens thickness increased with an increase in cortical opacity, whereas the ACD and ACV values decreased. The ACD was inversely correlated with LOCS III grades for nuclear opalescence (r = −0.197, P = .004), nuclear color (r = −0.195, P = .005), and cortical opacity (r = −0.508, P<.005). There were significant differences in lens thickness, ACD, and ACV between nuclear color, nuclear opalescence, and cortical opacity for LOCS III grades 3, 4, and 5, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There were significant differences in lens thickness, ACD, and ACV between nuclear and cortical age-related cataracts. The ACD decreased more in eyes with cortical cataract, suggesting that the risk for angle-closure glaucoma may be greater in cases of cortical opacity in which lens expansion is greater. Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.