Comparison of a manometric tear duct irrigation test with dacryoscintigraphy in the investigation of epiphora.

PURPOSE: Assessment of lacrimal resistance in patients with patent lacrimal systems is important in determining whether dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) surgery is appropriate. Current techniques, including lacrimal syringing and dacryoscintigraphy (DSG), can be unreliable. We compare the results of a manometric tear duct test (mTDT) irrigation technique with DSG in these patients. METHODS: All symptomatic patients in a specialist lacrimal clinic had full work-up apart from syringing. Lacrimal resistance was assessed using mTDT which applies a fixed head of fluid pressure via a cannula sealed to punctum. Conventional syringing was also performed in cases with abnormal mTDT. Symptomatic patients with delayed tear clearance, no external cause for watering and patent lacrimal systems had DSG. MTDT and DSG results were compared, including in asymptomatic fellow eyes. RESULTS: 105 tear ducts were examined, 85 symptomatic. Symptomatic eyes had a significantly higher mean mTDT resistance (p = .0003) and more had abnormal mTDT (52%) compared to asymptomatic eyes (10%). Although mean tear duct resistance was higher in those with nasolacrimal duct stenosis (NLDS) than freely patent (FP) on syringing (8.5 vs 10.8 dpm), this was not significant (p = .6). High proportions of both FP and NLDS groups had no flow at all on mTDT (60% and 53%, respectively). DSG showed no significant difference in the symptomatic versus asymptomatic eyes (p = .36), nor between those with a normal or abnormal mTDT (p = .25), nor between FP and NLDS groups (p = .25). CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to DSG, the mTDT provides valuable, objective information on lacrimal resistance that can guide a decision to DCR surgery.

Assessment of lacrimal resistance using a manometric tear duct irrigation system.

Lacrimal surgery aims to provide a low-resistance tear drainage passage. An assessment of lacrimal resistance guides decisions on surgery. We present results of a modified tear duct irrigation system that reliably measures lacrimal outflow resistance. Patients in a specialist lacrimal clinic had a full work-up to the point of tear duct syringing. The tear ducts were irrigated using a manometric system, which applied a fixed, known head of fluid pressure to a lacrimal cannula. Fluid flow is recorded and the lacrimal resistance derived as fluid pressure/fluid flow (units cmH20 secml-1, for simplicity presented as drops per minute, dpm). Patient groups were: A: Asymptomatic, A1: subgroup where the fellow symptomatic eye had a visible cause for watering, B: external visible cause for watering (ocular surface/lid/punctum), C: no externally visible cause, D: post op DCR, E: post syringing and probing, F: mixed/other. 444 tear ducts were examined. Mean flows (dpm) were: A1 (n = 19) 55; B (n = 183) 46; C (n = 142) 22: D (n = 38) 52. Excluding complete obstruction (n = 29), tear duct syringing only detected 48% of those with impaired manometric flow. Of those with a normal tear duct syringing, 53% had impaired manometric flow; 34% had a flow of 0 dpm. Differences in A1 versus C; B versus C and pre versus post dacryocystorhinostomy were all statistically significant (p < 0.05). The manometric system presented reliably measures lacrimal resistance and provides a substantial increase in sensitivity and specificity over conventional lacrimal syringing.

A new cause of lacrimal gland calcification: Retained metallic foreign bodies.

A 49-year-old male presented with a 4 month history of dysaesthesia in the left periorbital region. A CT scan showed a lacrimal gland mass with areas of dense calcification. Biopsies of the left lacrimal gland revealed a silver material with associated chronic granulomatous inflammation and secondary calcification. The histological specimen was sent for X-ray microanalysis. This confirmed the silver material to be aluminium. The metal fragments were subsequently discovered to be from a car aerial, which caused an orbital impaling injury 20 years prior to presentation. This is the first reported case of lacrimal gland calcification secondary to chronic metal foreign body exposure. The case is presented alongside literature reviews of lacrimal gland calcification and associated radiological findings.

Review on surgical management of ptosis and the use of phenylephrine: A national survey of British Oculoplastic Surgery Society (BOPSS) UK Consultants.

We assess current practice using topical phenylephrine by British Oculoplastic Surgery Society (BOPSS) consultants in the surgical management of ptosis. All UK consultant BOPSS members were invited to participate in a web-based survey, consisting of 8 questions relating to the surgical management of adult primary involutional ptosis with normal levator function and the use of phenylephrine in the management of ptosis. 53 BOPSS consultants (43%) completed the survey, of which 76% perform anterior approach levator advancement as first-line surgery. Then, 40% of consultants routinely use phenylephrine unilaterally in the ptotic eye, with 90% using 2.5% as opposed to 10%. Also, 77% of consultants use topical phenylephrine to illustrate the predicted outcome of surgery for the patient's benefit and 65% modify their approach on the basis of the test. If phenylephrine raises the ptotic eyelid >2 mm, those using an anterior approach reduces to 13.6%, with majority using a posterior approach (86.4%). If phenylephrine induces no improvement, then 76% use an anterior approach. If phenylephrine induces a contralateral ptosis 79% of consultants will perform simultaneous bilateral surgery. A number of interesting trends were observed amongst BOPSS consultants in their surgical approach to ptosis based on the phenylephrine test. The majority of consultants will switch from anterior to posterior approach surgery when the phenylephrine test is strongly positive and will also perform bilateral surgery when a contralateral ptosis is induced with phenylephrine.

Conservative management of upper eyelid entropion.

The authors report for the first time two cases of upper eyelid entropion secondary to neonatal conjunctivitis that resolved spontaneously following the insertion of a bandage contact lens. Previous reports advocate early surgical intervention to correct the eyelid abnormality and prevent any permanent corneal scarring and visual loss.