Epiphora (medicine)
Epiphora is an overflow of tears onto the face, other than caused by normal crying, constituting insufficient tear film drainage from the eyes.
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Epiphora is a clinical sign or condition of insufficient tear film drainage from the eyes
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It is a clinical sign or condition that constitutes insufficient tear film drainage from the eyes
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Tears drain down the face rather than through the nasolacrimal system
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tears will drain down the face rather than through the nasolacrimal system
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Causes include either overproduction of tears or decreased drainage of tears
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Causes of epiphora are any that cause either overproduction of tears or decreased drainage of tears
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Overflow of tears onto the face
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Epiphora is an overflow of tears onto the face
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Tearing onto the cheek
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resulting in tearing onto the cheek
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The condition is often frustrating or irritating
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This condition is often frustrating or irritating
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Diagnosis is clinical by history presentation and observation of the lids
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Diagnosis of epiphora is clinical by history presentation and observation of the lids
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Fluorescein dye can be used to examine for punctal reflux
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Fluorescein dye can be used to examine for punctal reflux by pressing on the canaliculi
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Dacryoscintigraphy is an imaging method used to detect obstructions in the lacrimal apparatus
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Dacryoscintigraphy is an imaging method used to detect obstructions in the lacrimal apparatus
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Lid repair is indicated for ectropion or entropion, along with punctal irrigation
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If epiphora is caused by ectropion or entropion, lid repair is indicated. Punctal irrigation is also required.
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In infants with nasolacrimal defects, a nasolacrimal duct probe is used with tube replacement
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In infants with nasolacrimal defects, a nasolacrimal duct probe is used and a tube replacement, either temporary (Crawford) or permanent (Jones), is carried out.
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Dacryocystorhinostomy joins the lacrimal sac to the nasal mucosa to restore lacrimal drainage
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A surgical procedure called a dacryocystorhinostomy is done to join the lacrimal sac to the nasal mucosa in order to restore lacrimal drainage.
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Obstructed tear outflow tract can be due to aging, conjunctivochalasis, infection, rhinitis, or failure of nasolacrimal duct to open in neonates
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The latter is often due to aging (a spontaneous process), conjunctivochalasis , infection (i.e. dacryocystitis ), rhinitis , and in neonates or infants, failure of the nasolacrimal duct to open.
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Trauma from facial fractures or soft-tissue trauma can cause poor reconstruction of the nasolacrimal duct system
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Cause of trauma could be facial fractures (including nasoethmoid fractures or maxillary Le Fort fractures ), and soft-tissue trauma involving the nose and/or the eyelid.
| Epiphora (medicine) | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Ophthalmology |
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Epiphora is an overflow of tears onto the face, other than caused by normal crying. It is a clinical sign or condition that constitutes insufficient tear film drainage from the eyes, in that tears will drain down the face rather than through the nasolacrimal system.[1]
Causes of epiphora are any that cause either overproduction of tears or decreased drainage of tears, resulting in tearing onto the cheek.[2] This can be due to ocular irritation and inflammation (including trichiasis and entropion) or an obstructed tear outflow tract, which is divided according to its anatomical location (i.e., ectropion, punctal, canalicular or nasolacrimal duct obstruction). The latter is often due to aging (a spontaneous process), conjunctivochalasis, infection (i.e. dacryocystitis), rhinitis, and in neonates or infants, failure of the nasolacrimal duct to open.[citation needed]
Another cause could be poor reconstruction of the nasolacrimal duct system after trauma to the area. Cause of trauma could be facial fractures (including nasoethmoid fractures or maxillary Le Fort fractures), and soft-tissue trauma involving the nose and/or the eyelid. This condition is often frustrating or irritating.[citation needed]
A systematic review studying the usage of punctal plugs for treatment of dry eye reported a few cases of epiphora among participants.[3]
Diagnosis of epiphora is clinical by history presentation and observation of the lids.[citation needed]
Fluorescein dye can be used to examine for punctal reflux by pressing on the canaliculi in which the clinician should note resistance of reflux as it irrigates through the punctum into the nose. Dacryoscintigraphy is an imaging method used to detect obstructions in the lacrimal apparatus.[citation needed]
If epiphora is caused by ectropion or entropion, lid repair is indicated. Punctal irrigation is also required. In infants with nasolacrimal defects, a nasolacrimal duct probe is used and a tube replacement, either temporary (Crawford) or permanent (Jones), is carried out. A surgical procedure called a dacryocystorhinostomy is done to join the lacrimal sac to the nasal mucosa in order to restore lacrimal drainage.[citation needed]
- ↑ "Handbook of Ocular Disease Management - Chronic Epiphora". Archived from the original on 2007-05-09. Retrieved 2007-05-13.
- ↑ "Leffler & Kuriakose Epiphora | HISTORIA OPHTHALMOLOGICA INTERNATIONALIS".
- ↑ Ervin AM, Law A, Pucker AD (2017). "Punctal occlusion for dry eye syndrome". Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 6 CD006775. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006775.pub3. PMC 5568656. PMID 28649802.