[Hydrodynamic method for diagnosing impaired patency of the lacrimal tract]

A hydrodynamic method has been developed, which is based on measurement of the pressure of a certain amount of the fluid passing through the patient's lacrimal tract for a given period. Pressures were determined in 194 healthy volunteers (338 eyes). Three hundred and seventy-six patients (752 eyes) with impaired lacrimation were examined. The examinations have shown that the method provides a way of objectively defining the degree of dacryostenosis, which makes it possible to further use adequate therapy and to monitor its efficiency.