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  • Schlemm’s Canal Expansion After Uncomplicated Phacoemulsification Surgery

    By Marianne Doran and selected by Deepak P. Edward, MD
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    Journal Highlights

    Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
    2016;57:6507-6512

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    Zhao et al. used swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT) to evaluate the effects of uncomplicated phacoemulsification cataract surgery on Schlemm’s canal (SC). They ob­served expansion of SC after surgery, which correlated with a reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP).

    The study included 25 patients with a senile cataract. The SC area and diam­eter were measured by OCT at baseline and at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months after surgery. The researchers used multivariate linear regression analysis to identify predictors of change in the mean SC area and diameter.

    After cataract surgery, the research­ers found a significant increase in SC area and diameter and a decrease in IOP through the end of the study period. After multivariate analysis, the changes in the SC area and diameter 6 months after surgery were significantly correlated with the change in IOP (SC area, β = –0.575; SC diameter, β = –0.576) and the change in the anterior vault (SC area, β = 0.359; SC diameter, β = 0.413).

    The authors concluded that after cataract surgery, the SC morphologic measurements increased significantly, and this increase was accompanied by a decrease in IOP. However, they added that further investigation is needed to determine whether such changes will continue to affect IOP in the longer term.

    The original article can be found here.