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Lacrimal System

Overview, Signs and Symptoms of an Obstruction

Located in the lateral upper lid margin, the lacrimal system involves the structure that produces and drains tears. This includes the lacrimal glands, ducts, and canaliculus which provides the conduit for drainage. The lacrimal gland produces roughly 10 mL of secretions per day, tears which enter into the nasolacrimal duct that drain the tears from the eye into the nose. If one has a plugged “tear duct,” not only will tears spill over the lower eyelids and run down the face, but the stagnant tears within the system can become infected. The canaliculus can become clogged. Excessive tearing and mucous discharge may lead to recurrent red eyes and infections. The excessive tearing can also produce secondary skin changes on the lower eyelids.

Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction

The nasolacrimal duct is a duct that connects the lacrimal glands in the eye to the nasal cavity. Epidemiology, clinical presentation and the common causes of this condition are presented below.

Epidemiology

• Congenital nasolacrimal duct obstructions are typically seen in newborns. Clinical research has shown that nasolacrimal duct obstruction occurs in 2 to 4 out of 100 newborn babies. However, this number dramatically increases in children who have Down syndrome with statistics suggesting about 22% to 36% developing this condition.

  
  Mark Boerner MD and his twin newborns,
  Premature with early duct obstructions

• There are a number of different reasons why nasolacrimal duct obstruction occurs. The epidemiological statistics have shown that of all the cases, 35% of them are due to obstruction, 15% occur due to improper formation of the opening of the lacrimal duct (punctual agenesis), 10% have some form of abnormal connection, and 5% have defects in the structure of the head and face.
• Congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction does not differentiate between race and sex.
• Congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction can result in numerous clinical presentations, which brings a varying degree of morbidity and mortality.
• Amniotocoele is a condition resulting in distension of the lacrimal gland. Amniotic fluid enters the lacrimal sac, gets trapped, and results in swelling of the lacrimal sac. Treating this can be done through inserting a small probe through the nasolacrimal duct.
• Dacrocystitis is another condition that may develop when there is inflammation and distension of the lacrimal sac. It occurs in the neonatal period which is just after the baby has been born. In these patients as well, probing the lacrimal sac through the nasolacrimal duct is the treatment.
• Finally, in newborns who have narrowing of the nasolacrimal duct, accumulation of pus or pus within the lacrimal sac might possibly take place. This can manifest as constant watering of the eye or expulsion of pus from the eye. The treatment usually involves antibiotics, compression and massage of the lacrimal sac. If left untreated, newborns may have matted eyes every morning and excessive tearing of the eyes.

Clinical Presentation

History forms an important part of making a diagnosis. There may be a family history of nasolacrimal duct problems and other abnormalities such as glaucoma. A detailed examination of the eye is useful in determining whether the patient has congenital nasolacrimal duct disease. A special test known as the dye disappearance test is useful in determining whether there is any obstruction. In addition, tests to determine whether the patient has glaucoma should be conducted.

Causes

Nasolacrimal duct obstruction is not very common but does have some recognized causes. The top three causes include genetics (i.e. having a family history of nasolacrimal duct obstruction), premature birth, and/or drug use by the mother during pregnancy. It is commonly accompanied by other eye abnormalities.

TREATMENT

Nine out of ten cases resolve within the first year of life. If required, massage therapy over the lacrimal gland might possibly be helpful. In patients in whom this does not work, using a probe can cure up to 95% of cases. Other procedures include the insertion of a tube into the nasolacrimal gland or the insertion of a balloon catheter. Special surgical procedures include a dacrocystorhinostomy (DCR)– a procedure that helps restore normal tear flow.

Acquired (Adult-Onset) Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction

Epiphora is the overflow of tears which is caused by an imbalance in tear production and tear drainage. It may be functional due to a displaced punctum, eyelid laxity, weak orbicularis. It can also be attributed to facial nerve palsy or an anatomical obstruction that blocks the drainage of tears. Anatomical obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct could be either congenital which occurs during the neonatal period or acquired which manifests during adulthood. The classification of Acquired Nasolacrimal Drainage Obstruction (NLDO) may be primary or secondary:

• Primary acquired nasolacrimal drainage obstruction (PANDO) is caused by inflammation or fibrosis without any precipitating cause. The name was given by Linberg and McCormick in 1986.
• Secondary acquired lacrimal drainage obstruction (SALDO) is further classified further based on aetiology as infectious, inflammatory, neoplastic, traumatic and mechanical. This classification was proposed by Bartley.

Pathophysiology

Although quite common, the frequency of nasolacrimal drainage obstruction is unknown. It has no racial predilection. PANDO is more commonly seen in middle-aged and elderly females. This is due to the significantly smaller dimensions in the lower nasolacrimal fossa and middle nasolacrimal duct among women. Middle-aged women exhibit alterations in the dimensions of the bony nasolacrimal canal that coincides with osteoporotic changes elsewhere in the body, which supports the higher incidence of PANDO in women. Some suggest that sudden hormonal changes incite generalized de-epithelialization predisposing a narrow duct to be blocked by sloughed off debris. SALDO is aetiologically classified as infectious, inflammatory, neoplastic, traumatic, and mechanical.

Patient with PANDO

Infectious lacrimal drainage obstructions are as follows:

• Bacterial Causes – most common causes are Actinomyces, Propionibacterium, Fusobacterium, Bacteroides, Mycobacterium, and Chlamydia.
• Viral Causes – most commonly Herpes virus. Due to canalicular obstruction and damage.
• Fungal Causes – Aspergillus, Candida, Pityrosporum, and Trichophyton. Usually cause obstruction due to dacryolith/stone or cast formation.
• Parasitic Causes – rare but can be caused by Ascaris lumbricoides entering through the valve of Hasner.

Inflammatory lacrimal drainage obstruction may be endogenous or exogenous in origin:

• Endogenous Causes – most commonly due to Wegener granulomatosis and sarcoidosis. Other causes include cicatricial pemphigoid, sinus histiocytosis, Kawasaki disease, and scleroderma.
• Exogenous Causes – eye drops, radiation, systemic chemotherapy, and bone marrow transplantation all cause punctal and canalicular scarring, stenosis and occlusion in varying degrees.

Neoplastic lacrimal drainage obstructions include:

• Neoplasms.
• Obstruction caused by primary growth, secondary spread, or metastatic spread.

Traumatic lacrimal drainage obstruction may be iatrogenic or non-iatrogenic:

• Atrogenic causes – trauma and subsequent scarring due to overenthusiastic lacrimal probing, orbital decompression surgery, paranasal, nasal, and craniofacial surgery (all cause obstruction).
• Non-iatrogenic causes – either blunt or sharp injury to the canaliculus, lacrimal sac, and nasolacrimal duct results in post-traumatic dacryostenosis.

Mechanical lacrimal drainage obstruction includes:

• Intraluminal foreign bodies – dacryoliths or casts due to infection or long-term use of topical medications.
• External compression – due to rhinoliths, nasal foreign bodies, or mucoceles. Dentigerous cyst in the maxillary sinus is also thought of as a culprit.

Symptoms/Presentation

Patients with nasolacrimal duct obstructions most commonly present with epiphora, mucoid or purulent discharge with a painful, swollen medical canthus. They often have features of recurrent dacryocystitis, recurrent conjunctivitis, or ocular pemphigus. Some cases present with bloody tears and even epistaxis as in nasal, sinus or lacrimal sac tumors. A thorough past ocular and medical history is needed to evaluate the cause of the disease and determine the best course of action. It is important for patients to note previous eye surgery, lid surgery, use of antiglaucoma medications, or any other topical medications. On examination, the following findings might possibly be present:

• Gross observation shows overflowing tears, fluctuant tender mass over medial canthus, mucoid or purulent eye discharge. Regurgitation test results in mucoid reflux with lacrimal massage indicating lower system obstruction.
• Slit lamp examination shows enhancement of tear meniscus height by fluorescein greater than 2 mm, punctal stenosis, canaliculitis, concretions expressed from the punctum.

Investigations

• Laboratory studies include sending lacrimal discharge for Gram/Giemsa stain, culture and sensitivity, KOH and anticytoplasmic antibodies.
• Imaging studies can add value, including dacryocystography, dacryoscintigraphy, CT scan, CT dacryocystography (CTDCG), nasal endoscopy, or Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance dacryocystography.
• Other tests including Schirmer test, Fluorescein dye disappearance test, lacrimal irrigation, probing of the canaliculi, Jones dye tests, microreflux test, Hornblass saccharine test, can be helpful.
• Diagnostic canalicular irrigation determines the level of canalicular obstruction staging it as partial obstruction, total common canalicular obstruction, total functional occlusion and complete nasolacrimal obstruction.

Treatment

Medical care typically includes topical antibiotics in early infections, and/or systemic antibiotics in chronic or severe infections. Surgical care might include:

• External dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR)
• Endoscopic mechanical/nonlaser dacryocystorhinostomy
• Endoscopic laser dacryocystorhinostomy
• Endoscopic laser-assisted dacryocystorhinostomy
• Conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy (CDCR)
• Balloon catheter dilatation
• Inferior meatus surgery

CT Scan showing nasolacrimal duct tumor/obstruction.
Once tumor was removed/silicone intubation performed,
the patient’s symptoms of tearing resolved.

At Idaho Eyelid and Facial Plastic Surgery, we have experienced surgeons who performed countless DCRs and can get your lacrimal system working properly. Schedule a consultation today to receive diagnosis and best treatment in Boise, Idaho.