Abstract
Purpose :
To compare the eyelid pressure between functional nasolacrimal duct obstruction (FNLDO) and normal controls using blepharo-tensiometer, and to evaluate relationship between eyelid pressure and the effect of silicone intubation (SI) in patients with FNLDO.
Methods :
We enrolled 36 eyes of 36 patients with suspected FNLDO who underwent SI and 36 healthy eyes of age-matched controls. One eye of each patient with FNLDO was randomly selected for analysis. The eyelid pressure was estimated using a blepharo-tensiometer and compared between the control and FNLDO groups. The relationship between eyelid pressure and clinical variables was analyzed. The outcomes of SI were assessed at 6 months after surgery using subjective and objective criteria.
Results :
The eyelid pressure was significantly lower in FNLDO group than in the control group (p = 0.008). In normal control group, the eyelid pressure was correlated with age (p < 0.001) and lower eyelid laxity (p = 0.016). In FNLDO group, the eyelid pressure was only correlated with age (p < 0.001). The success rate of SI for FNLDO was 69.4% (25 of 36 eyes), the eyelid pressure was higher in the surgical success subgroup than in the failure subgroup, with borderline significance (p = 0.08).
Conclusions :
Our results suggest that the eyelid pressure measured using a blepharo-tensiometer is decreased in patients with FNLDO and can be used for the diagnosis. The role of the eyelid pressure as a possible predictor of the outcomes of SI for FNLDO should be investigated in further studies.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.