The emerging role of anterior segment optical coherence tomography in cataract surgery: Current role and future perspectives

Abstract

Modern-day cataract surgery has achieved equivalence with refractive surgery, thus requiring surgeons to perform all possible pre-emptive exercises to mitigate intraoperative complications. In this direction, we possess a tremendous amount of technology to understand the preoperative status of the lens. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (ASOCT) is one such tool, which has played a distinctive role in imaging various forms of cataracts. In this review, we critically analyse the practical role of ASOCT in the preoperative and intraoperative periods from a cataract surgeon’s perspective. After a thorough literature assessment, it was substantiated that the cross-sectional imaging ability of ASOCT can demonstrate delicate anatomical and pathological lenticular changes in a visually and clinically comprehensible way. The objective grading of immature cataracts to intralenticular and posterior capsular details in mature/white, posterior polar, traumatic and other forms of cataracts paves the way for various practical innovations as and when required. Hence, preoperative more than intraoperative ASOCT-derived lenticular knowledge is of immense help in careful surgical planning, with improved complication rates.