Tear clearance measurement in patients with dry eye syndrome using quantitative lacrimal scintigraphy

Abstract

In the current study, it was concluded that although the lacrimal drainage system was normal, tear clearance was significantly delayed in dry eye patients. With this study, we have shown that quantitative lacrimal scintigraphy, which is an objective, practical, and noninvasive method, appears to be useful for the assessment of the tear clearance in patients with dry eye syndrome.

The clinical value and histopathological correlation of lacrimal scintigraphy in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome

“…There are few studies in the literature that have evaluated lacrimal gland function using LS in patients with dry eye syndrome [20,21]. One of the scintigraphic studies discussed tear clearance in patients with dry eye syndrome using LS and reported that tear clearance significantly decreased in patients with dry eye syndrome [20]. In another study, quantitative LS was used to assess the value of two types of punctal plugs for treating dry eyes [21].…”

“…With LS, it is possible to assess the dynamics of lacrimal drainage, the permeability fraction of the nasolacrimal canal, tear clearance time and changes in the percentage of interpalpebral nuclear material activity over time. There are few studies in the literature that have evaluated lacrimal gland function using LS in patients with dry eye syndrome [20,21]. One of the scintigraphic studies discussed tear clearance in patients with dry eye syndrome using LS and reported that tear clearance significantly decreased in patients with dry eye syndrome [20].…”

“…The time of entry of the tracer into the sac, duct and nose was documented for the LS. Lacrimal scintigrams were classified as having no delay or delayed tear clearance according to published data for expected normal values [8,20,21]: time to sac was delayed if more than or equal to 2 min; time to duct was delayed if more than or equal to 3 min; time to nose was delayed if more than or equal to 6 min (score > 0). Delay was also subclassified according to the severity of delayed tear clearance, as previously reported [18].…”

“…Lacrimal scintigraphy (LS) is a simple, noninvasive and physiological method for evaluating the patency of the lacrimal system [11][12][13][14]. Although LS has been used to evaluate the tear dynamics in different eye diseases for a long time [15][16][17][18][19], there are few reports on the evaluation of LS findings in patients with dry eye syndrome [20,21]. To our knowledge, there is no LS study on specific groups of patients with SS and no report has discussed the relationship between histopathological stage of disease and LS findings in patients with SS.…”

Punctal occlusion is safe and efficient for the treatment of keratoconjunctivitis sicca in patients with ocular GvHD

“…Another possible explanation is the already-delayed tear turnover present in the dry eye state. 16 With a delayed turnover, local anti-inflammatory treatment could be more effective.…”