Modified Horner-Duverney's muscle plication in the treatment of functional epiphora

The orbicularis oculi muscle, especially its part (Horner-Duverney's muscle), which is surrounded by the pericanalicular and located deep in the lacrimal sac, is of primary importance in all stages of tear fluid flow.

This study aimed to demonstrate that tightening the pretarsal-preseptal orbicularis oculi and Horner-Duverney muscles may improve the function of the lacrimal pump and may be a surgical alternative for treating functional epiphora.

This was a prospective interventional case series of 28 patients with functional epiphora. During surgery, sutures were used to perform the intervention, and these were first passed through the upper and lower eyelid pretarsal-preseptal orbicular muscles, through the Horner-Duverney's muscle, and finally, through the dacriocystorhinostomy incision and tightened. Each patient completed the Lac-Q questionnaire and Munk scale prior to surgery, as well as six weeks and six months later. Before surgery, a fluorescein dye disappearance test was performed, which was repeated at follow-up appointments. Pre- and post-operative data were analyzed and compared at the most recent visit.

Twenty-eight patients (10 males and 18 females) with a mean age of 59 ± 35 years were included in this study. The severity of epiphora and its tearing effect on daily life significantly improved following the operation. The fluorescein dye disappearance test result was significantly improved after 6 weeks of followup in %89.3 of eyes and at 6 months followup in 92.9% of eyes. The Lac-Q questionnaire's mean social impact scores improved significantly postoperatively, from 3.76 to 0.77 (p < 0.001). The changes in total scores (7.29 before surgery to 1.71 after 6 months) were statistically significant (p < 0.001). The Munk score success rate was 64.3% and 85.7%, respectively. No significant complications or adverse effects were observed.

Our findings suggest that a beneficial and seemingly simple, safe, and easy procedure to reduce functional epiphora is to tighten the preseptal-pretarsal orbicularis and Horner-Duverney's muscles.