Treatment for functional epiphora with botulinum toxin-A versus lateral tarsal strip in a randomized trial.

INTRODUCTION: To compare the efficacy of botulinum toxin A (BoNTA) injection into the lacrimal gland versus lateral tarsal strip (LTS) for functional epiphora. METHODS: Randomized clinical trial. Sequential, parallel, non-blinded study design. Patients aged 18 years or older with functional epiphora and a minimum score of 3 in Munk Scale (MS) were randomized to BoNTA or LTS group. Changes in Munk scale, Schirmer test (ST) and quality of life (QoL) were assessed at week 6 and during follow-up until week 30. The mean time without epiphora and the adverse events (AE) were recorded. RESULTS: The final analysis included 25 patients, 12 (21 eyes) assigned to BoNTA (5U/0.05 mL) and 13 (20 eyes) to LTS. At 6 weeks there was an improvement in the MS in BoNTA versus LTS group (-2.48 vs -1.55, P = .0152) and at 12 weeks (-2.68 vs -1.69, P = .0267). A significant decrease was noted in the ST at week 2, 12 and 30 with BoNTA. The QoL improved after both interventions without statistical significance. The mean duration of effectiveness in BoNTA group was 26.2 weeks (range 7.7-36.6) and in LTS group was 24.8 weeks (range 6.7-37.6), P = .937. The main AE were temporary eyelid ptosis in 25% (3/12) of the BoNTA group and surgical scar discomfort in 23% (3/13) of the LTS groups, P = .722. No AE were classified as severe. CONCLUSION: BoNTA injection into the lacrimal gland is a safe and effective treatment for functional epiphora, with a greater decrease in MS at 6 and 12 weeks compared with LTS.

Amniotic membrane in the surgical treatment of post-blepharoplasty diplopia. / Membrana amniótica en el tratamiento quirúrgico de diplopía posblefaroplastia.

Two consecutive cases are presented of vertical diplopia after blepharoplasty. They concern two women aged 41 and 63 years with vertical binocular diplopia after bilateral lower blepharoplasty using a trans-conjunctival approach. The diplopia was presented in both cases in the immediate postoperative period, being stable in one of the cases and progressive in the other. With the suspicion of restrictive strabismus, it was decided to explore the affected extra-ocular muscles, eliminate adhesions and coat the muscular bellies with amniotic membrane. Post-blepharoplasty diplopia is an uncommon, but very serious complication, given the expectations of these patients. The current literature reports unsatisfactory results in its management. In this study, it is considered that the muscular covering with amniotic membrane can provide better results in the surgical management of these patients, due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-adherence effect.

[Idiopathic loss of lateral tarsal suspension]. / Desinserción tarsal lateral bilateral idiopática.

CASE: A 53-year-old man who showed a loss of tarsal suspension in the lateral third of both lower eyelids underwent lateral canthoplasty with a good post-operative result. DISCUSSION: Disinsertion of the union of the inferior tarsus with the lateral canthus, of unknown cause, is a very uncommon finding that has almost never been reported in the world literature. There are two cases described of eyelid elastolysis with loss of lateral tarsal suspension, as in our case, but both showed eyelid skin atrophy and had histopathologic confirmation. Our case did not have skin atrophy.

[Amaurosis secondary to frontal traumatism]. / Amaurosis secundaria a traumatismo frontal.

CASE REPORT: We present the case of a patient diagnosed with amaurosis of the right eye secondary to a right frontal contusion. The energy of the impact was projected from the orbital ceiling to the minor wing of the sphenoid bone. This bone was fractured, thus reducing the optic canal diameter and damaging the optic nerve. DISCUSSION: In our case, we describe a mixed mechanism of injury, that is to say, a frontal contusion indirectly transmitted to the optic canal and a direct lesion of the optic nerve secondary to the movement of the minor wing of the sphenoid bone into the optic canal.