J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2012 Nov;53(11):1541-1548.

The Influence of a Silicone Tube on Tear Drainage in Patients with Healed Rhinostomy after Dacryocystorhinostomy

• Cho EH
• Park SY
• Kook KH

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the influence of a silicone tube on tear drainage in patients with a healed rhinostomy site after dacryocystorhinostomy.
METHODS
The subjects of the present study included the patients for whom the removal of a silicone tube was performed after dacryocystorhinostomy for acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction. The silicone tube was removed after the rhinostomy site was completely healed. The tear drainage function was evaluated using the fluorescein dye disappearance test at the following 3 time points: immediately before, immediately after, and 1 month after silicone tube removal. In addition, a Schirmer test was performed and tear break-up time was measured at each time point. To study the correlation between the measured values and subjective tearing symptoms, self-report questionnaires were given to each patient at his/her last visit.
RESULTS
The 3 measured values showed no statistical difference between the 3 time points, immediately before, immediately after, and 1 month after silicone tube removal. When the patients were divided into groups according to their subjective symptomatic changes after silicone tube removal, no group showed statistically significant difference in the 3 measured values before, between, and after silicone tube removal.
CONCLUSIONS
In patients with a healed rhinostomy site after dacryocystorhinostomy, the removal of the silicone tube did not induce a change of tear drainage function. Therefore, based on the results from the present study, a silicone tube may not have influence on tear drainage functions.

Keyword

Endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy; Silicone tube; Tear drainage function

MeSH Terms

Dacryocystorhinostomy
Drainage
Fluorescein
Humans
Nasolacrimal Duct
Surveys and Questionnaires
Silicones
Tears
Fluorescein
Silicones

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Slit-lamp photography of tear meniscus height using fluorescein dye disappearance test. Tear meniscus height measured immediately after fluorescein dye instillation (A); tear meniscus height measured 5 minutes after fluorescein dye instillation (B); Tear drainage function (%) was defined as (a-b)/a×100 in this study.

• 

  Figure 2 The questionnaire results of the number of patients in each category. (A) The degree of symptomatic improvement after dacryocystorhinostomy. (B) The timing of first symptomatic improvement. (C) Patients' discomfort due to silicone tube.

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  Figure 3 The number of patients according to the symptomatic improvement before and after silicone tube removal. Group 1, patients who felt better symptomatic improvement before silicone tube removal; Group 2, patients who felt similar symptoms before and after silicone tube removal; Group 3, patients who felt better symptomatic improvement after silicone tube removal.

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