The Whitnall Barrier: A Technique for the Management of Lacrimal Gland Prolapse.

BACKGROUND: The Whitnall barrier procedure, a modified Beer and Kompatscher surgical technique to reposition the lacrimal gland, is presented alongside a case series of patients demonstrating excellent aesthetic and functional outcomes. METHODS: The Whitnall barrier procedure is illustrated procedurally and accompanied by a case series of 20 consecutive patients treated in a single institution by a single surgical team between December of 2016 and February of 2020. Lid contour and function were assessed postoperatively, as was patient satisfaction. RESULTS: Thirty-seven eyes of 20 patients were included. All patients were women, with an average age of 50 years. Fourteen patients underwent surgery for cosmesis, four had inactive thyroid eye disease, and two had lacrimal gland enlargement secondary to dacryoadenitis. The degree of lacrimal gland prolapse was described as mild in two eyes and moderate in 35 eyes. All patients had one or more additional surgical procedures. Mean follow-up duration was 11 months, with complete resolution of lacrimal gland prolapse in 34 eyes. The patient who did not have complete resolution had dacryoadenitis and required ongoing immunosuppressive therapy. Two patients were discharged on topical lubricants: one with thyroid eye disease and one cosmetic patient who underwent upper and lower lid blepharoplasties at the same time. There were no intraoperative complications and no incidences of infection, dehiscence, or damage to the lacrimal gland ductules. CONCLUSIONS: The Whitnall barrier technique is a safe and effective surgical procedure to restore the anatomic location of the lacrimal gland. It provides excellent aesthetic and functional outcomes.

Effect of lower lid tightening surgery with lateral tarsal strip on intraocular pressure.

AIM: To determine whether lower lid tightening surgery with the lateral tarsal strip (LTS) technique can lead to a significant increase in intraocular pressure. This could have implications in the management of lower lid laxity in patients with glaucoma. METHODS: Prospective observational study of patients undergoing unilateral LTS for lower lid laxity. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured using Goldmann applanation tonometry in the operative and fellow eye immediately preop and post-op, and at 2 weeks and 3 months post-operatively. Results were analysed for a statistically significant change in IOP following surgery. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients underwent LTS (mean age 76). Mean preoperative IOP in the operative eye was 13.59 mmHg and 13.89 mmHg in the fellow eye. Mean immediate post-operative IOP was 15.41 mmHg in the operative eye and 14.53 mmHg in the fellow eye. There was a statistically significant increase between immediate pre- and post-operative IOP in the operative eye (P = 0.02), but not in the fellow eye. There was also a statistically significant difference found at 3 months post-operatively. CONCLUSION: Lower lid tightening with LTS was associated with a statistically significant increase in IOP immediately post-operatively. In some patients, IOP remained elevated at 3 months after surgery. Lower lid laxity can occur with increasing age and in older patients frequently present with ocular comorbidities, including glaucoma. The results suggest that lower lid tightening surgery in patients with glaucoma or glaucoma suspects, requires careful consideration.

Teleophthalmology and COVID-19: the patient perspective.

Oculoplastic services at a UK district general hospital underwent reconfiguration to incorporate teleconsultations during the COVID-19 pandemic, and patient satisfaction was assessed. Methods All oculoplastic patients at Maidstone Hospital underwent telephone or video consultations in place of face-to-face reviews. Patient feedback surveys were conducted. Results 80 telephone and 40 video consultation responses were analysed. The majority of teleconsultations lasted 6-10 minutes. 55% of telephone and 82.5% of video consultation patients felt face-to-face reviews would not have changed the appointment outcome. Satisfaction scores of 10/10 were given by 71.3% of telephone and 72.5% of video consultation patients. Correlation between age and preference of consultation type was observed, with 62.5% of patients aged >65 years requesting regular face-to-face reviews compared to only 18.8% of 25-64-year-olds. Conclusion Patients highly support teleconsultation adaptations. This is an opportunity to incorporate and enhance teleconsultation facilities to meet current and future demand, especially with ongoing social distancing guidelines.

Management of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction: results of a national survey of paediatric and oculoplastic ophthalmologists.

BACKGROUND: To survey variation in management of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO) by oculoplastic and paediatric ophthalmologists in the UK. METHODS: A 14-question online survey was sent to all members of the British Oculoplastic Surgery Society (BOPSS) and the British and Irish Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Association (BIPOSA) in February 2020. The aim was to establish preferred primary, secondary and tertiary interventions for CNLDO treatment, with emphasis on the use of nasoendoscopy and ductal intubation. Results were compared with a national survey from 2007 to observe trends in management. RESULTS: One hundred and three responses from single-speciality consultants were analysed. In total, 71.8% of CNLDO patients were assessed by paediatric ophthalmologists. Fluorescein dye disappearance test was the commonest investigation, and paediatric consultants were five times more likely to perform Jones test. No clinicians performed outpatient probing. Age of first intervention was most commonly 12 months, although more interventions are being conducted at younger ages than in 2007. Preferred primary procedure for both subspecialties was syringe and probe under general anaesthetic, with 43.9% of oculoplastic consultants using nasoendoscopy vs 12.9% of paediatric consultants. Most common re-do procedure for both subspecialties was nasoendoscopy-guided syringe and probe ± intubation. In contrast to 2007, dacryocystorhinostomy is now the commonest tertiary procedure, with endonasal approach twice as common as external. CONCLUSION: Despite changes in approach since 2007, there is still considerable variation between oculoplastic and paediatric ophthalmologists regarding treatment preferences for CNLDO, particularly the use of nasoendoscopy. We propose a national audit of CNLDO treatment outcomes to potentially standardise treatment protocols.

Clinical coding and data quality in oculoplastic procedures.

INTRODUCTION: Hospitals in England are reimbursed via national tariffs set out by NHS England. The tariffs payable to hospitals are determined by the activity coded for each patient's hospital visit. There are no national standards or publications within oculoplastics for coding accuracy. Our audit aimed to determine the accuracy of coding oculoplastic procedures carried out in theatres and to assess the financial implications of any discrepancies. METHODS: We carried out a prospective audit of consecutive oculoplastic procedures performed at one hospital site over a 6-week period. We subsequently created a coding proforma and performed a re-audit using the same methods. RESULTS: In the first cycle, clinical coding was 'correct' in 30.7% of cases, 'incomplete' for 12.9% and 'incorrect' for 56.5%. Of the 'incorrect' codes, 54.3% were coded as non-oculoplastic procedures (e.g. extraocular muscle surgery). We discussed our findings with the coding team in order to address the sources of error. We also created a 'tick box' coding proforma, for completion by surgeons. Our re-audit results showed an improvement of 'correct' coding to 85.7%. CONCLUSION: Clinical coding is complex and vulnerable to inaccuracy. Our audit showed a high rate of coding error, which improved following collaboration with our coding team to address the sources of error and by creating a coding proforma to improve accuracy. Accurate clinical coding has financial implications for hospital trusts and consequently Clinical Commissioning Groups. In times of severe financial pressures, this could be a valuable tool, if rolled out over all specialities, to make much needed savings.

Are You Missing an Entropion? The Test of Induced Entropion 2.

PURPOSE: Entropion is the inward turning of the eyelid. The most common type of entropion is involutional, a combination of eyelid laxity, lower eyelid retractor weakness, and orbicularis oculi override. Unfortunately, the condition can be intermittent and remain undiagnosed, leading to ocular surface damage. In suspected cases, clinicians can use provocation techniques to elicit the condition. These include the forced closure of the eyelids, the tetracaine provocation test, and the test of induced entropion (TIE). The authors present an alternative diagnostic test: the TIE-2. METHODS: The TIE-2 test is performed by asking the patient to look down while the examiner holds the upper eyelid open and high to prevent downward movement. The patient is then asked to close their eyelids as tightly as possible. An entropion will then be induced. To illustrate the technique, the authors present 2 patients seen in the oculoplastics clinic with symptoms and signs suggestive of intermittent entropion, in whom conventional provocation tests were unsuccessful. RESULTS: In both cases, conventional methods did not provoke an entropion. However, the TIE-2 test successfully induced an entropion, leading to the correct diagnosis and appropriate management. CONCLUSION: When there is suspicion of intermittent entropion that is not revealed with existing provocation tests, the TIE-2 is a simple and useful diagnostic tool.

Frontal sinus mucocoele: a rare cause of ptosis.

A 73-year-old man, with no medical history of note, presented with a 4-week history of an isolated left-sided ptosis and associated periorbital and retro-orbital discomfort. His pupils were spared, his eye movements were not restricted and he was not proptosed. A prompt CT orbits and head scan revealed a large left frontal sinus mucocoele that had eroded into the left orbit. The patient had successful endoscopic sinus surgery under the ear, nose and throat team and 1 month later was seen in ophthalmology clinic. His ptosis and discomfort had fully resolved and he had no neurological sequelae from the surgery.