Iris Insertion and Trabecular Meshwork Composition in Primary Congenital Glaucoma and Normal Eyes Using Anterior Segment OCT.

Abstract

Purpose: To quantify iridocorneal angle morphology in pediatric eyes with primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) compared to normal controls using overhead-mounted anterior segment OCT (AS-OCT), including iris insertion and trabecular meshwork (TM) intensity.

Design: Prospective, cross-sectional, masked observational study.

Participants: Eyes of children <5 years old with PCG and normal controls undergoing examination under anesthesia.

Methods: Nasal and temporal angles were imaged using AS-OCT. A masked ophthalmologist analyzed images using MATLAB and ImageJ. Clinical data were collected.

Main outcome measures: Iris insertion (distance from scleral spur to iris plane), normalized TM intensity, and TM homogeneity.

Results: Forty-nine patients (86 eyes: 33 PCG; 53 normal) from one center were imaged (01/2023-02/2026). Mean age was younger (9.2 ± 9.1 vs. 15.9 ± 11.0 months, P = 0.003), and mean intraocular pressure (IOP) higher (29.8 ± 8.1 vs. 12.9 ± 4.9 mmHg, P < 0.001), in PCG vs. controls, respectively. Iris insertion was more anterior in PCG eyes vs. controls (80.6 ± 85.0 vs. 143.7 ± 68.8 μm, P < 0.001). Iris insertion did not correlate with IOP in PCG (P = 0.30) or controls (P = 0.33). Iris insertion also showed no significant association with age. Normalized TM intensity did not differ significantly between PCG and controls (0.59 ± 0.17 vs. 0.58 ± 0.19, P = 0.70) but decreased with age.

Conclusions: In our cohort, AS-OCT imaging demonstrated a more anterior iris insertion in PCG eyes compared to controls, independent of IOP and age, confirming structural alteration of the anterior chamber angle. These findings may help guide further studies on the relationship between angle morphology and glaucoma phenotype.

Financial disclosure(s): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.