Early intraocular pressure and anterior chamber depth changes after phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation in nonglaucomatous eyes. Comparison of groups stratified by axial length

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) and anterior chamber depth (ACD) after phacoemulsification according to axial length (AL). SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, St. Vincent's Hospital, Catholic University of Korea, Suwon, South Korea. METHODS: This prospective study comprised 71 eyes of 71 patients who had phacoemulsification and foldable intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. The IOP changes preoperatively and 1 day and 1, 3, and 5 weeks postoperatively and ACD changes preoperatively and at 1 day and 3 and 5 weeks were analyzed by AL (AL1, 21.0 to <23.0 mm; AL2, 23.0 to <25.0 mm; AL3, 25.0 to <27.0 mm; AL4, >or=27.0 mm). RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in preoperative IOP according to AL. However, there was a statistically significant postoperative IOP decrease in the AL1 and AL2 groups and a statistically significant IOP increase in the AL3 and AL4 groups. There was a statistically significant difference in the preoperative ACD between AL groups and a statistically significant increase in ACD with increased AL from preoperatively to 1, 3, and 5 weeks postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: After uneventful phacoemulsification and foldable IOL implantation, the IOP and ACD changed significantly according to AL in the early postoperative period. The AL appeared to predict these changes.