Anterior Segment Morphology Of Young Patients With Primary Angle Closure

Purpose:Patients with Primary Angle Closure (Glaucoma) or PAC(G) are frequently associated with: reduced axial length, increased lens thickness, increased iris thickness, and crowded anterior chambers. This study investigates the anterior segment morphology of PAC(G) in younger patients using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM).Methods:Consecutive patients with a diagnosis of irido-trabecular contact (ITC) or PAC(G) were recruited from glaucoma clinics at the Birmingham & Midland Eye Centre. Twenty young patients (group 1) with PAC(G) and twenty older patients (group 2) underwent UBM using a linear 50 MHz probe. Measurements of: anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chamber width (ACW), lens thickness, axial length were made, together with angle-scleral spur distance were made and compared to 20 patients with angle closure aged > 40 years. Statistical analysis was by pooled two sample t test.Results:Data was collected in 20 eyes of 20 young patients (age range 30 -39 years with PAC(G) and twenty eyes of older patients (40-59 years) with PAC(G). Table 1 shows the mean values for each biometric parameter in two different age groups. AC width (p<0.001), AC depth (p<0.001), and axial length were all significantly greater in the younger group (0.03