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Expulsion of a lacrimal dacryolith by sneezing: A rare event
A Salam1, C P R Williams, R M Manners
1Southampton Eye Unit, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton - UK.
Purpose:
To describe the case of a man presenting with intermittent epiphora of the right eye and a low grade dacryocystitis due to a dacryolith.
Methods/Results:
He was treated conservatively and was offered a Dacryocystorhinostomy. A few weeks before surgery, he developed swelling and pain over the right medial canthus followed by violent sneezing with spontaneous extrusion of the dacryolith.
Discussion:
The authors propose that the dacryolith fragmented spontaneously and once it reached the nasal cavity, was expelled by violent sneezing to the nostril, a mechanism not previously reported.
Conclusions:
Reformation of dacryolith is a likely possibility, and recurrence of symptoms in such cases may ultimately require a Dacryocystorhinostomy. (Eur J Ophthalmol 2006; 16: 161-3).
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