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Partial lacrimal carunculectomy: a simple procedure for epiphora
1Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Leuven, Catholic University Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 33, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Objective:
To evaluate the effect of partial surgical excision of enlarged lacrimal caruncles, termed megalocaruncles, in patients with epiphora from functional lacrimal drainage obstruction.
Design:
Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series.
Participants:
From May 1995 through December 1999, 88 patients (46 women and 42 men; mean age, 68 years) with epiphora, patent lacrimal drainage system on irrigation, and a megalocaruncle underwent a partial lacrimal carunculectomy procedure. In 26 patients, a bilateral partial lacrimal carunculectomy was performed.
Intervention:
Lacrimal caruncular tissue, with its overlying mucosa, was partially excised, and the wound was closed with interrupted sutures.
Main Outcome Measures:
Symptomatology and patient satisfaction.
Results:
After a partial lacrimal carunculectomy procedure, epiphora was subjectively improved in 77% of the patients, ranging from complete relief in 33% to significant improvement in 44% of the patients. Twenty-three percent of the patients had no change in symptoms. The mean follow-up was 12.7 months.
Conclusions:
Megalocaruncles can be the cause of epiphora in patients with functional lacrimal drainage obstruction, for whom a partial lacrimal carunculectomy is an effective surgical procedure in 77% of the cases.