Microscopically and Chemically Detected Haemolacria

Abstract

Two methods have been developed for the detection of occult haemolacria (occult blood in tears): 1) Microscopy of conjunctival fluid aspirated by means of the quantitative pipette method. 2) Chemical stix method employed on a sample of conjunctival fluid transferred to cotton-wool plug. Double samples from 306 eyes were subjected to microscopy, and chemical tests were performed on samples from 303 other eyes. Microscopy has been found to disclose occult blood in 13 per cent of normals (2 100 erythro-cytesi3.1 mm* in 3 per cent of normals), while blood is detected chemically in 3 per cent. Occult blood is most frequently found in cases of acute infectious conjunctivitis (65 per cent microscopically and 21 per cent chemically), less frequently in subacute and chronic infectious conjunctivitis (26 and 20 per cent respectively). Haemolacria is most frequently seen in relation to neutrophilia (45 per cent), less frequently with lymphocytosis (35 per cent), and even more rarely in the absence of both neutrophilia and lymphocytosis (1 1 per cent). Ciliary congestion is a n unlikely cause of haemolacria. Postoperatively blood is present for two or three days, whereas blood instilled into the conjunctival sac of a normal eye disappears in less than one hour. The protein concentration in tears is raised in association with haemolacria.Read before the Danish Ophthalmological Society October 9, 1976. 132 Microscopically and Chemically Detected Haemolacria

Conjunctivo‐cytologic changes in response to intense physical activity

“…In a previous study, based on the same technique and carried out by the same microscopist, erythrocytes were found in no more than 15% of a normal population (Norn 1977). This discrepancy may have different causes.…”

“…As might be expected, the supplementary qualitative stix method was less sensitive. Previous employment of this method (Norn 1977) has shown that a positive response may be expected within the haemoglobin sector at an erythrocyte number above 100, demonstrated by means of the pipette method. The study under review disclosed an erythrocyte number above 100 in altogether 13 samples.…”

“…The pipette sampling method was supplemented by the so-called qualitative stix method (Norn 1977). on subjects practising aerobics (n = 39) in advance of their training.…”

“…The pipette sampling method was supplemented by the so-called qualitative stix method (Norn 1977). A 2-3 cm loosely rolled wad of cotton was left for 30 sec laterally in the inferior fornix of the right eye to collect conjunctival fluid.…”

Occult haemolacria in females

“…They named this phenomenon 'substituting menstruation'. Norn (1977) has examined patients with different eye diseases and detected occult haemolacria in 21% out of 77 eyes with bacterial conjunctivitis. Johansen (1980) has disclosed occult bleeding in 28% out of 80 patients with haematologic disorders.…”