Clinical Study
Assessment of Anterior Segment Changes in
Pseudophakic Eyes, Using Ultrasonic Biomicroscopic Imaging,
after Pars Plana Vitrectomy with Silicone Oil or Gas Tamponade
Erkan Ünsal, Kadir Eltutar, Belma Karini, and Osman KJzJlay
Istanbul Research and Training Hospital, 34098 Istanbul, Turkey
Correspondence should be addressed to Erkan
¨
Unsal; erkanunsal@gmail.com
Received 30 March 2016; Revised 19 April 2016; Accepted 24 April 2016
Academic Editor: Sang Beom Han
Copyright © 2016 Erkan
¨
Unsal et al. Tis is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License,
which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Objective. To evaluate the morphological changes of the anterior segment using ultrasonic biomicroscopy (UBM) imaging in
pseudophakic patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with silicone oil or gas (C
3
F
8
) internal tamponade agent
injection. Method. Tis prospective study included pseudophakic patients with planned PPV, divided into two groups according to
internal tamponade agent: those in which silicone oil was used ( = 27, Group 1) and those in which gas (C
3
F
8
) was used ( = 24,
Group 2). UBM measurements were performed in the supine position before and one week afer surgery. Results. In patients of
Group 1, postoperative trabecular meshwork-ciliary process distance (T-CPD) and iris-ciliary process distance (I-CPD), according
to preoperative values, were found to be statistically signifcantly reduced, and postoperative mean value of scleral thickness (ST)
and intraocular pressure (IOP), according to preoperative value, was found to be statistically signifcantly increased. In patients
of Group 2, postoperative mean values of anterior chamber depth (ACD), ciliary body thickness (CBT), T-CPD, I-CPD, and IOP,
according to preoperative values, were found to be statistically signifcantly reduced. Preoperatively, in Group 2 patients, according
to Group 1 patients, TIA and IOP were found to be statistically signifcantly increased. Preoperative and postoperative IOP between
the measured parameters with UBM showed no statistically signifcant correlation. Conclusions. Gases cause more morphological
changes in the anterior segment structures. It is thought that complications such as increased intraocular pressure can be seen more
frequently for this reason.
1. Introduction
Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) technology uses high-
frequency ultrasound to produce images of the anterior
segment in high resolution. Anterior segment structures,
including the crystalline lens, ciliary body, and lens zonules,
can be morphologically assessed and quantitatively measured
by using this in vivo noninvasive imaging technique. Te
reported repeatability of UBM measurements is good if
the measurements are performed by the same experienced
observer [1–4]. UBM has been investigated regarding the
repeatability of measurements, accuracy, and precision [5–
7]. Several publications have reported that intraobserver
reproducibility is high for all the measurements performed
using this technique, but interobserver reproducibility is poor
[3, 7, 8]. Te main reason for this variability is the quality
of the received image. In addition, the variability in the
measurement analysis should not be underestimated. Te
main reasons underlying this variability are the diferences in
the selection of the frame to be measured and the detection
of the location of the scleral spur. Terefore, the comparison
of the measurements before and afer any attempt should be
performed by the same observer. Tus, in our study, pre-
and postoperative UBM measurements were performed and
compared by a single observer.
In many vitreoretinal diseases, PPV is considered the
standard surgical approach. Gases and silicone oil are used
frequently as internal tamponade agents. Following PPV
surgery, many complications can be encountered, a number
of which are related to the anterior segment. UBM can reveal
changes in the anterior segment due to complications in
the postoperative period [9–16]. Among these changes are
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Journal of Ophthalmology
Volume 2016, Article ID 8303792, 8 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/8303792