Abstract
Lacrimal canaliculus (LC) has a key role in tear drainage, but it is difficult to evaluate the LC in detail, using the existing examinations. In this study, our novel LC imaging technique provided the high-resolution images of LC in a non-invasive manner. Three-dimensional images of LC were acquired via the palpebral conjunctiva from 20 healthy volunteers (20 eyes) and 10 patients with various lacrimal disorders (10 eyes), using optical coherence tomography (OCT) dacryography (OCTD). The LC images showed morphological differences between the vertical and horizontal segments. The function of LC could be evaluated by measuring the intralumen signal intensity over time after instillation of a contrast agent (2% rebamipide ophthalmic suspension). OCTD clearly visualised the blind extremity of the LC in four patients with punctal obstruction, which was useful for deciding the punctal incision location. In one patient with canalicular obstruction, contrast agent successfully highlighted the LC that had become narrow toward the site of obstruction. Significant differences were not found in the function and morphology of LC between the patients with NLDO and the healthy subjects. OCTD may be a useful tool for LC imaging, because it facilitates quantitative and simultaneous evaluation of LC morphology and function.
Highlights
The dye disappearance test and probing/irrigation are frequently used for the evaluation of the lacrimal outflow[3,4,5]
We developed a novel Lacrimal canaliculus (LC) imaging technique known as optical coherence tomography dacryography (OCTD), which involves the use of a custom-made swept-source OCT system and a contrast agent, and used it to describe the morphology and function of LC in healthy volunteers and patients with various disorders of the lacrimal drainage system
LC was successfully imaged with sufficient quality using OCTD in all healthy volunteers
Summary
The dye disappearance test and probing/irrigation are frequently used for the evaluation of the lacrimal outflow[3,4,5]. These procedures can be performed, but only indirectly examine the lacrimal passage. It can be imaged using computed tomography dacryocystography and lacrimal scintigraphy[6,7,8,9,10]. It is difficult to evaluate the lacrimal canaliculus (LC) in detail using these existing examinations. We developed a novel LC imaging technique known as optical coherence tomography dacryography (OCTD), which involves the use of a custom-made swept-source OCT system and a contrast agent, and used it to describe the morphology and function of LC in healthy volunteers and patients with various disorders of the lacrimal drainage system
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