Biometric Comparisons between Acute and Chronic Angle Closure Glaucoma

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to find any difference of biometric features between acute angle closure glaucoma and chronic angle closure glaucoma. METHODS: A survey was conducted on glaucoma patients who visited the outpatient department between Jan 1, 1995 and May 31, 2001. We performed biometric measurements such as axial length, lens thickness, anterior chamber depth, and lens thickness/axial length in 48 patients with primary angle closure glaucoma who were previously done with laser iridotomy or trabeculectomy on both eyes. They are consisted of 24 patients of acute angle closure glaucoma, 24 patients of chronic angle closure glaucoma and 24 normal controls. RESULTS: This study attempted to determine morphological factors which may cause acute attack of primary angle closure glaucoma by comparing biometric features between chronic angle closure glaucoma and acute angle closure glaucoma, but the authors could not find any differences in the biometric features (lens thickness, axial length, anterior chamber depth) which may give rise to the acute attack. CONCLUSIONS: In the acute attack group and chronic angle-closure glaucoma group, there was no significant difference in biometric factors such as lens thickness, axial length, anterior chamber depth and ratio of lens thickness to axial length. Such result leads to the assumption that complex of biometric factors may give rise to acute attack. There's the need for further study with regard to morphological factor which gives rise to the acute attack.