Ultrasound biomicroscopic characteristics of the anterior segment in primary congenital glaucoma

PURPOSE: To evaluate qualitatively and quantitatively ultrasound biomicroscopic (UBM) features of the anterior segment in eyes with primary congenital glaucoma. METHODS: UBM of 45 eyes of patients with primary congenital glaucoma (39 previously operated and 6 unoperated eyes) and 28 control eyes were included in this study. UBM parameters were correlated with ocular biometry. Iris thickness, ciliary body thickness, ciliary body-lens distance, posterior chamber depth, and anterior chamber angle were measured and compared with control eyes. Other features of the anterior segment were qualitatively evaluated. RESULTS: A thin, stretched-out ciliary body and abnormal tissue at the iridocorneal angle were features seen in 90% of UBM scans. Iris thickness and stretched zonules correlated with the axial length (r = -0.6 and 0.58, respectively; p = 0.04) but not with the mean corneal diameter. Abnormal insertion of the ciliary body to the posterior surface of the iris was noted in eight eyes (17%). CONCLUSIONS: The present study documents characteristic anterior segment dysplasia and ciliary body anomalies in patients with primary congenital glaucoma.