AIM: To investigate the changes in peripapillary choroidal thickness(pCT)within 1a of the first episode of acute primary angle closure glaucoma(APACG).

METHODS: A prospective cohort study. A total of 31 patients with APACG who admitted to the ophthalmology department of Shijiazhuang People's Hospital from October 2015 to September 2019 were selected, with 31 eyes in attack group, 31 fellow eyes in preclinical group and 30 cases(30 eyes)in control group. pCT of the three groups was measured respectively at the attack period, 1wk, 1, 3, 6mo and 1a after surgery.

RESULTS: The pCT of the attack group was thicker than that in the attack period when at 1wk after surgery, and continued to become thinner within the following 1a(P<0.05). The pCT of the attack group was thicker than that of the other two groups during the attack period and at 1wk after surgery, while it became thinner at 1a(P<0.05). In the attack group, the average pCT was positively correlated with the duration of intraocular hypertension and negatively correlated with the anterior chamber depth(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: For patients with first episode of APACG, pCT was diffusely thickened during attack and at 1wk after surgery. The pCT returned to normal at 1mo, while it became thinner at 1a. Furthermore, the average pCT was positively correlated with the duration of intraocular hypertension, and the choroidal thickness may play an important role in the attack of APACG.