Abstract
This prospective case series aimed to investigate the contrast sensitivity function before and after lacrimal passage intubation (LPI) in eyes with epiphora due to lacrimal passage obstruction. We included 58 eyes of 51 patients who underwent LPI for lacrimal passage obstruction. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), contrast sensitivity function, and lower tear meniscus were compared before LPI and one month after lacrimal duct stent removal. The area under the log contrast sensitivity function (AULCSF) was calculated for the analyses. Lower tear meniscus was assessed using anterior segment optical coherence tomography. The BCVA was comparable (p = 0.61) before and after LPI, while AULCSF increased significantly after treatment (before LPI: 1.29 ± 0.17, after LPI: 1.37 ± 0.14, p < 0.0001). Treatment resulted in a significant increase in contrast sensitivity at all spatial frequencies, 3–18 cycles/degree (p < 0.01 for 3, p < 0.01 for 6, p < 0.0005 for 12, p < 0.05 for 18 cycles/degree). The lower tear meniscus parameters improved significantly after treatment (p < 0.005); however, no correlation between the changes in the tear meniscus and those of the AULCSF was found. The contrast sensitivity significantly improved after LPI in eyes with epiphora due to lacrimal passage obstruction.
Highlights
Patients with epiphora owing to lacrimal passage obstruction often complain of physical discomfort, such as unwilling tearing, skin eczema, and vision-related discomfort
Visual acuity is maintained, it is reported that contrast sensitivity function [1], optical quality [2], and quality of life (QoL) are compromised in eyes with epiphora owing to lacrimal passage obstruction [3,4,5]
Patients often experience an improvement in the quality of their vision, it is unknown whether the deteriorated contrast sensitivity function of eyes with epiphora owing to nasolacrimal passage obstruction recovers after Lacrimal passage intubation (LPI)
Summary
Patients with epiphora owing to lacrimal passage obstruction often complain of physical discomfort, such as unwilling tearing, skin eczema, and vision-related discomfort. Visual acuity is maintained, it is reported that contrast sensitivity function [1], optical quality [2], and quality of life (QoL) are compromised in eyes with epiphora owing to lacrimal passage obstruction [3,4,5]. Patients often experience an improvement in the quality of their vision, it is unknown whether the deteriorated contrast sensitivity function of eyes with epiphora owing to nasolacrimal passage obstruction recovers after LPI. As a fall in contrast sensitivity affects the quality of vision, this may be an indication for LPI in patients with epiphora due to lacrimal passage obstruction. This study aimed to investigate contrast sensitivity function in eyes with epiphora owing to lacrimal passage obstruction before and after LPI using different methods
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