Tear meniscus volume changes in external dacryocystorhinostomy (ex-DCR) evaluated with quantitative measurement using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT)

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate tear meniscus change in ex-DCR with quantitative measurement on tear meniscus height (TMH), area (TMA) and volume (TMV) by using AS-OCT.

Methods: Twenty three patients of 27 eyes (11 males and 12 females) with a primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (PANDO) who had an ex-DCR from 2010 to 2011 were evaluated retrospectively on TMH, TMA, and TMV value changes measured by AS-OCT. Measurements were performed before surgery (pre), and 1 month (1M), 3 months (3M) and 6 months (6M) after surgery. Statistical analyses were made using paired t-test with Bonferroni adjustment.

Results: Mean TMH (mm) value of each measurement were 0.685 (pre), 0.325 (1M), 0.350 (3M) and 0.311 (6M), respectively. There was a significant difference on TMH reduction between before and each term (p<0.05). Mean TMA (μm2) value of each measurement were 140561 (pre), 55028 (1M), 43021 (3M) and 31273 (6M), respectively. There was a significant difference on TMA reduction between before and each term (p<0.01). Mean TMV (mm3) value of each measurement were 0.837 (pre), 0.322 (1M), 0.244 (3M) and 0.215 (6M). There was a significant difference on TMV reduction between before and each term (p<0.01).

Conclusions: Tear meniscus change can be measured with accuracy in ex-DCR. This result shows that tear meniscus change can be evaluated with quantitative measurement by the AS-OCT instead of slit-lamp examination.

Keywords: 550 imaging/image analysis: clinical • 466 clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: treatment/prevention assessment/controlled clinical trials