Partial Lacrimal Punctual Occlusion in the Management of Dry Eye

Abstract

Purpose: : to describe a case series of patients with chronic dry eye submitted to partial punctual occlusion.

Methods: : a series of 37 eyes of 19 patients with chronic dry eye was enrolled in this study. All patients were submitted to measurement of the lacrimal punctum before and after the procedure. Cauterization of the edge of all lacrimal punctum was carried out in all patients. Ocular surface’s status was then analyzed by the following tests before and after punctum partial occlusion: subjective symptoms, Schirmer test, fluorescein and rose bengal scoring.

Results: : all lacrimal punctum after the procedure measured less than 0.5 mm. The mean size of the lacrimal punctum before partial occlusion was 0,65 ±0.134 mm. After partial occlusion, symptomatic improvement was observed in all patients. Schirmer test before and after partial occlusion was 2,70 ±2.55 mm and 8,92 ±7,19 mm respectively. Rose bengal scoring decreased from 4,95 ±2,72 to 3,16 ±1.80 and fluorescein scoring decreased from 4.08 ±2.53 to 2.573 ±1.74. The mean follow-up was 24,47 ±15,31 weeks.

Conclusions: : decreasing the punctum size to 0.5mm can improve the subjective symptoms, vital staining scores, and Schirmer test in dry eye.

Clinical Trial: : www.hcnet.usp.br number: 0300/08

Keywords: cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: treatment/prevention assessment/controlled clinical trials