Long-term Efficacy of Dacryoendoscopy-guided Recanalization and Silicone Tube Intubation.

PURPOSE: To investigate the long-term efficacy of dacryoendoscopy-guided recanalization and silicone tube intubation in patients with obstruction in the lacrimal drainage system and to identify factors related to surgical outcome. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with primary nasolacrimal duct obstruction and canalicular obstruction who underwent dacryoendoscopy-guided recanalization and silicone tube intubation between August 2014 and March 2016. Factors related to surgical outcome were examined and compared between the success group (eyes with complete response and partial response) and the failure group. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the success rate according to the factors found to have statistical significance. RESULTS: The study included 74 eyes of 51 patients. The mean age of the patients was 60.3 ± 10.0 years (range, 34-80 years). The success group consisted of 66 eyes (89.2%) (complete response, 56 eyes, 75.7%; partial response, 10 eyes, 13.5%) and the failure group consisted of eight eyes (10.8%). The median follow-up period was 58 months (range, 6.5-72 months), and the overall success rate was 89.2%. Compared to the eyes with preoperative lacrimal irrigation test of partial passage, the eyes with no passage were associated with a lower success rate (95.9% vs. 76.0%, p = 0.01). Postoperative inflammation was also associated with a lower success rate (96.6% vs. 60.0%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Dacryoendoscopy-guided recanalization and silicone tube intubation is effective and can be considered a first choice of treatment for eyes which show partial passage in the lacrimal irrigation test. The management of postoperative inflammation is essential to ensure surgical success.

Topical Cyclosporine Pretreatment of Ocular Surface in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients.

PURPOSE: Dry eye disease (DED) of ocular graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a common complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Ongoing inflammation and irreversible fibrotic changes of the ocular surface and adnexa are obstacles for effective treatment of ocular GVHD. We hypothesized that topical cyclosporine A (CsA) pretreatment might be effective in preventing ocular GVHD. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized, comparative study, patients were randomly assigned to the topical CsA treatment (4 times daily in both eyes for a month before allogeneic HSCT and continued use of eye drops after transplantation) or control (no treatment) groups. Participants underwent thorough ophthalmic examination-including Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire survey, Schirmer test, tear break-up time (TBUT) evaluation, and corneal fluorescein staining-before and 1, 2, and 3 months after allogeneic HSCT. RESULTS: Fifty-eight participants completed the study. Among patients with baseline Schirmer values <10 mm and TBUT <5 s before allogenic HSCT, those in the topical CsA treatment group exhibited significantly better corresponding values after transplantation than patients in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Topical CsA pretreatment might be beneficial in the early stage of DED and might prevent further inflammation and consequent irreversible fibrosis, especially in patients with preexisting DED components.