Evaluating the Endoscopic Jones Primary Dye Test in Lacrimal Dysfunction.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Oculoplastics
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Epiphora, or excessive tearing, can significantly impact quality of life.
• Accurate diagnosis of epiphora is crucial for effective treatment.
• The endoscopic Jones (eJones) tests are used to evaluate lacrimal drainage function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the diagnostic accuracy of the eJones I and II tests.
• To compare eJones test results with imaging findings in epiphora patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 35 eyes presenting with epiphora.
• Patients underwent rigid nasal endoscopy, dacryocystography (DCG), and dacryoscintigraphy (DSG).
• Lacrimal drainage was categorized as nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO), stenosis (NLDS), or functional epiphora.

Main Results:

• eJones I test was negative in all cases of NLDO or NLDS (n=14).
• eJones I test was positive in all cases with normal imaging (n=4).
• Functional epiphora (n=17) showed mixed eJones I test results.

Conclusions:

• The eJones I test effectively identifies anatomical obstruction.
• Diagnostic utility of eJones I is limited in functional epiphora due to its multifactorial nature.
• Further validation studies are recommended for eJones testing in epiphora diagnosis.