Prospective Controlled Study of Vapor Pressure Tear Osmolality and Tear Meniscus Height in Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction
Accepted 22 December 2005. published online 13 March 2006.
Purpose
To determine tear osmolality (TO) and tear meniscus height (TMH) in patients with functional (FNLDO) and primary acquired (PANDO) nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Additionally, to determine the effect of successful dacryocystorhinostomy surgery on these tear parameters.
Design
Prospective case-controlled interventional case series.
Methods
Up to 20 μl of basal tears were collected from 20 age- and gender-matched control subjects, 33 patients with FNLDO, 28 patients with PANDO, and 31 patients after successful dacryocystorhinostomy. TMH was measured with videoreflective dacryomeniscometry, and TO was measured with vapor pressure osmometry.
Results
Thirty-nine percent of the patients with FNLDO (13/33) elected to undergo dacryocystorhinostomy surgery, compared with 64% of the patients with PANDO (18/28; P = .09). TMH was significantly higher in the disease groups (FNLDO median, 630 ± 187 μm; PANDO median, 620 ± 210 μm) compared with the control subjects (median 262 ± 50 μm; P < .01). In those patients who underwent surgery, TMH was slightly higher in FNLDO than PANDO (P = .08), and TMH reduced significantly after surgery (P < .05). Mean TO in the control subjects was 313 ± 17 mmol/kg, in FNLDO was 309 ± 19 mmol/kg, and in PANDO was 315 ± 24 mmol/kg (P > .05). TO was similar in those patients who progressed to surgery compared with the total group and was unaffected by surgery.
Conclusion
TO was similar in normal control subjects and in the watery eye group and was unchanged after dacryocystorhinostomy surgery. Despite the slightly higher TMH in patients with FNLDO, a higher proportion of patients PANDO elected to have surgery. Relative to FNLDO, patients with PANDO who progressed to surgery had lower TMH and normal TO, which suggests that a complete lacrimal drainage obstruction induces negative feedback that results in no reduction in TO.
aVision CRC, and the School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
bThe Ocular Plastics Unit, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia
Inquiries to Ian C. Francis, FASOPRS, Chatswood Grove Eye Clinic, Suite 12, 12–14 Malvern Ave, Chatswood, NSW 2067, Australia;
Supported in part by the Australian Government through the Cooperative Research Centres Scheme and an International Postgraduate Research Scholarship through the University of New South Wales (U.S.).
ABSTRACT