Vision-related quality of life in patients undergoing silicone tube intubation for lacrimal passage obstructions.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To evaluate the changes in vision-related quality of life in patients with lacrimal passage obstructions undergoing silicone tube intubations.

DESIGN:

Prospective, consecutive, comparative, interventional case series.

METHODS:

Forty-five patients with the chief complaint of epiphora diagnosed with complete and unilateral lacrimal passage obstructions were enrolled. Exclusion criteria included history of congenital nasolacrimal stenosis; lacrimal passage obstructions resulting from trauma, tumor, or chemotherapy; previous lacrimal passage surgery; and partial and functional nasolacrimal duct obstructions. Silicone tube intubation using a Nunchaku-style tube was performed under direct visualization with dacryoendoscope in all patients. Operations were considered as successful when the irrigating fluid could pass through the lacrimal passage and the disappearance of dye was observed in dye disappearance test and the patients' epiphora symptoms improved 3 months postoperatively. The 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) was self-administered in all patients preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. Patients' preoperative and 3-months-postoperative NEI VFQ-25 scores were compared.

RESULTS:

Operations were successful in 40 patients (89%). Fully completed questionnaires were received from 32 patients (80%). Silicone tube intubation using a Nunchaku-style tube was associated with a significant improvement of the NEI VFQ-25 composite score (P = .0001), ocular pain score (P < .0001), and mental health score (P = .0003).

CONCLUSION:

Relief of epiphora by silicone tube intubation using a Nunchaku-style tube treatment significantly improved the vision-related quality of life in patients with lacrimal passage obstructions.

• Authors: Yoshiaki Kabata, Satoshi Goto, Genichiro Takahashi, Hiroshi Tsuneoka
• Journal: American journal of ophthalmology (Am J Ophthalmol) Vol. 152 Issue 1 Pg. 147-150.e2 (Jul 2011) ISSN: 1879-1891 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21570053 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Silicone Elastomers

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Female
• Humans
• Intubation (instrumentation)
• Lacrimal Duct Obstruction (diagnosis, therapy)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prospective Studies
• Quality of Life
• Sickness Impact Profile
• Silicone Elastomers
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Vision, Ocular (physiology)