Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography (AS-OCT) Guided Reversal of Edematous Punctal Occlusion

Mohammed Sameh Elshorbagy, Osama E Shalaby, Mohamed Ashraf Eldesouky, Amr M Awara

Oculoplasty Unit, Ophthalmology Department, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt

Correspondence: Amr M Awara
Oculoplasty Unit, Ophthalmology Department, Tanta University, Tanta 31511, Egypt
Tel +20 1274005384
Fax +20 403415008
Email amrawara@gmail.com

Aim: To evaluate the role of anterior segment–optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) in the diagnosis of punctal stenosis and to compare punctal parameters before and after medical treatment.
Patients and Methods: The study was conducted on 40 eyes of 24 patients who had acquired inflammatory punctal stenosis and had persistent epiphora (persistent epiphora group – PEG), and 20 eyes of 10 subjects with normal punctal openings as a control group (control group – CG). We measured the outer punctal diameter (OPD), recorded the visibility of the internal punctum and punctal depth (PD) using AS-OCT, before and 1 month after treatment with preservative free methylprednisolone 5% eye drops. Punctal diameter, tear meniscus height (TMH) and Munk’s score were compared to the control group before and after treatment.
Results: The mean OPD of the PEG before treatment (455.5 ± 174 μm) was significantly smaller than that of the CG (590.9 ± 106.6 μm) (P= 0.002). The mean OPD of the PEG significantly increased to 484.6 ± 175.5 μm after treatment (P < 0.001). Also, the visibility of vertical canaliculus lumen and PD were restored in 70% of eyes. The TMH was much higher in the PEG than in the CG before treatment (P< 0.05). However, after treatment the difference was not statistically significant.
Conclusion: AS-OCT parameters were useful in monitoring and measuring the efficacy of medical treatment in relieving punctal edema, which subsequently resulted in reducing the epiphora symptoms.

Keywords: AS-OCT, punctal occlusion, punctal edema, preservative-free steroids