Peripheral anterior synechiae and ultrasound biomicroscopic parameters in angle-closure glaucoma suspects

PURPOSE: To investigate the correlation between peripheral anterior synechia (PAS) and the quantitative anterior chamber angle parameters measured by ultrasound microscopy (UBM) in angle-closure glaucoma suspect (ACGS) eyes. METHODS: Eyes were defined ACGS as having occludable angles and intraocular pressure less than 21 mm Hg without glaucomatous optic nerve head. The gonioscopic criteria for ACGS were the trabecular meshwork invisible in 3 or more quadrants of the entire angle and the angular width less than 20 degrees by Shaffer classification. Twenty-seven eyes of 20 patients underwent anterior chamber angle and ciliary body imaging with UBM. Angle opening distance (AOD(500)), angle recess area (ARA), trabecular-ciliary process distance (TCPD) and trabecular-iris angle (TIA) were measured from the UBM images at each quadrant. RESULTS: The AOD(500), ARA, and TIA were not significantly different between the eyes with PAS (9 eyes) and without PAS (18 eyes) at each quadrant. However, the TCPD was significantly shorter in the superior quadrant when compared with the eyes without PAS (mean: 405.3+/-70.9 microm vs 536.4+/-140.5 microm) (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the shorter distance from trabecular meshwork to ciliary body or the anterior placement of ciliary process may play a role in the development of PAS in ACGS eyes.