Ultrasound Biomicroscopic Evaluation of Postoperative Anterior Segment Changes in Canine Intumescent Cataracts.

Phacoemulsification partially restores anterior segment architecture in intumescent cataracts, informing glaucoma risk and surgical prognosis.

This prospective study utilized ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) to evaluate anterior segment structural changes in canine eyes with intumescent cataracts before and after phacoemulsification surgery. A total of 61 eyes from 40 dogs were assessed preoperatively across three groups: normal (n=18), non-intumescent cataract (n=23), and intumescent cataract (n=20). Postoperative assessments were performed on 51 eyes from 37 dogs, divided into post-cataract (n=21) and post-intumescent (n=29) groups. Key parameters measured included angle opening distance (AOD), iridocorneal angle (ICA), ciliary cleft width (CCW), ciliary cleft length (CCL), ciliary cleft area (CCA), ciliary body axial length (CBAXL), ciliary process-sclera angle (CPSA), and ciliary body muscle thickness (CBMT). Preoperatively, intumescent cataracts were associated with significant narrowing of the iridocorneal angle and collapse of the ciliary cleft, findings consistent with increased risk of secondary glaucoma. Following phacoemulsification, the intumescent group demonstrated significant widening of the ICA and ciliary cleft parameters, suggesting partial anatomical restoration of the anterior segment. However, ciliary body muscle thickness showed no significant postoperative change in either group. These findings highlight the importance of preoperative UBM assessment for identifying patients at elevated glaucoma risk and suggest that timely surgical intervention may help mitigate anterior segment structural compromise. The results have meaningful implications for surgical planning and postoperative monitoring in dogs with intumescent cataracts.

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