Management Of Ocular Surface Disease Research Articles

Clinical applications of in vivo confocal microscopy enhance the detection and management of ocular surface disease in dogs and cats.

In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) is a unique imaging technique that permits noninvasive evaluation of the ocular surface on the cellular level. High-resolution images of all layers of the cornea are obtained in real-time with IVCM, and the acquired images are often comparable to ex vivo histochemical analysis of corneal biopsy specimens. The basic morphological features of the healthy living cornea as viewed by IVCM are reported in many domestic animal species, and the number of published descriptions of ocular surface pathologies in companion animals is progressively expanding. There is great potential for IVCM to improve the detection, characterization, and management of diverse ocular surface diseases in companion animals. This review summarizes several established and emerging clinical applications of IVCM in companion animal ocular surface disease, including infectious keratitis, corneal foreign bodies, corneal dystrophies and degenerations, ocular surface masses, corneal endotheliitis, pigmentary keratitis, and evaluation of corneal nerves.

Open-source, 3D printable IOL holder for detailed, smartphone-based anterior segment photography.

Smartphones are increasingly relevant resources in medical practice as they are ubiquitous and reasonably cheap. Among the advantages of using smartphones in medical practise, there is the possibility of obtaining reproducible photographic documentation of various conditions. This is particularly true in the ophthalmic field, where anterior segment color photography plays a significant role in the diagnosis and the management of ocular surface diseases. Here we propose an original design for an open-source smartphone accessory for taking and sharing high-definition photographs of the anterior segment. It can be easily reproduced via 3D printing, and it only needs to be integrated with an intraocular lens (IOL), widely available to the majority of ophthalmologists. Compared to other solutions described previously, it allows a precise and reproducible placement of the IOL on the smartphone camera, avoiding manual positioning that could result tricky and time-consuming. The IOL holder is cheap, scalable, portable and it can be quickly assembled and disassembled, without permanently modifying the smartphone camera.

Self-Retained, Sutureless Amniotic Membrane Transplantation for the Management of Ocular Surface Diseases.

Amniotic membrane (AM) has anti-inflammation, anti-fibrotic, and regenerative effects. Sutureless cryopreserved AM transplantation, ProKera® (Bio-Tissue, Inc., Miami, FL, USA), is easily applied by ophthalmologists in the treatment of ocular surface diseases. This retrospective study included patients with ocular surface diseases who received ProKera® between January 2022 and May 2023. Six patients (9 eyes) with a mean age of 56.8 ± 20.8 years old (range 25-74) and a mean follow-up period of 7.8 ± 4.1 months (range 1-12) were included, including 2 of recurrent conjunctival tumors with limbal and corneal involvement (cases 1-2), 1 of pterygium with marked astigmatism (case 3) and 3 of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS, cases 4-6). ProKera® was inserted after the lesion excision and deep keratectomy in cases 1-3, and no recurrence or corneal complication was noted. Cases 4-5 were discharged from the intensive care unit and presented with severe chronic SJS. Most ocular manifestations improved significantly after symblepharon release and ProKera® insertion, except for corneal conjunctivalization in 1 eye (case 5). Case 6 involved early ProKera® use at the bedside during acute SJS, resulting in complete resolution. We concluded that the adjunctive application of ProKera® can be effective for ocular surface reconstruction and provides options to intervene earlier for outpatients or patients unstable for invasive surgical intervention.

Contact lenses for the treatment of ocular surface diseases.

Contact lens wear is useful in ocular conditions such as high refractive errors, irregular astigmatism, corneal ectasias, corneal dystrophies, post-keratoplasty, post-refractive surgeries, trauma, and ocular surface diseases. The new innovations of highly oxygen-permeable contact lens materials have broadened the applications of contact lens suitability. Therapeutic contact lenses are medically used in the management of a wide variety of corneal conditions and ocular surface diseases. These lenses aid in pain relief, enhance corneal healing, maintain ocular homeostasis, and act as a drug delivery system. Drug delivery applications of contact lenses hold promise for improving topical therapy. The modern rigid gas permeable scleral contact lens provides symptomatic relief in painful corneal diseases such as bullous keratopathy, corneal epithelial abrasions, and erosions. It has been useful in therapeutic management as well as visual rehabilitation by enhancing the ocular surface and protecting the cornea from adverse environmental conditions. This review provides a summary of contact lenses used for the treatment of ocular surface diseases based on the current evidence available in the literature. This can help enhance the understanding and management of ocular surface diseases with respect to contact lens use in our day-to-day ophthalmology practice.

Challenges and concepts in the diagnosis and management of ocular graft-versus-host disease.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is characterized by tissue inflammation in the host following an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). The pathophysiology is complex and only incompletely understood yet. Donor lymphocyte interaction with the histocompatibility antigens of the host plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Inflammation may affect multiple organs and tissues, e.g., the gastrointestinal tract, liver, lung, fasciae, vaginal mucosa, and the eye. Subsequently, alloreactive donor-derived T and B lymphocytes may lead to severe inflammation of the ocular surface (i.e., cornea and conjunctiva) and the eyelids. Furthermore, fibrosis of the lacrimal gland may lead to severe dry eye. This review focuses on ocular GVHD (oGVHD) and provides an overview of current challenges and concepts in the diagnosis and management of oGVHD. Ophthalmic manifestations, diagnostic procedures, grading of severity and recommendations for ophthalmic examination intervals are provided. Management of ocular surface disease with lubricants, autologous serum eye drops, topical anti-inflammatory agents and systemic treatment options are described based on the current evidence. Ocular surface scarring and corneal perforation are severe complications of oGVHD. Therefore, ophthalmic screening and interdisciplinary treatment approaches are highly relevant to improve the quality of life of patients and to prevent potentially irreversible visual loss.

Prescription Habits of Scleral Lenses for the Management of Corneal Irregularity and Ocular Surface Disease Among Scleral Lens Practitioners.

To describe prescribing patterns of therapeutic scleral lenses (SLs) in the management of corneal irregularity and ocular surface disease among practitioners who prescribe SLs. Participants ranked treatment options for corneal irregularity and ocular surface disease in the order they would generally consider using them in an electronic survey. Median rank score for each option is reported, along with the percentage of participants assigning first place ranking to each option. The percentage of participants assigning first, second, or third place ranking to each option is also reported. Seven hundred and seventy-eight practitioners participated. Scleral lenses are most frequently considered as the first choice for the management of corneal irregularity based on overall median rank, followed by corneal rigid lenses (rigid gas-permeable [RGPs]). Scleral lenses were the first choice of 42% of participants, followed by RGPs (20%). For ocular surface disease, lubricant drops are most frequently used first, followed by meibomian gland expression, topical cyclosporine or lifitegrast, topical steroids, punctal plugs, and SLs, respectively. Lubricant drops were the first therapeutic option considered for ocular surface disease by 63% of participants and 45% ranked SLs as their sixth, seventh or eighth treatment based on median overall rank. Scleral lenses were identified as the first option for management of corneal irregularity more frequently than RGPs. Scleral lenses are considered for management of ocular surface disease before surgical intervention but after meibomian gland expression, punctal occlusion, and topical medical therapy are attempted.

Differentiating primary dry eye disease from ocular neuropathic pain: implications for symptom management

ABSTRACT Clinical Relevance Eyecare practitioners’ management of ocular surface disease is essential in managing increasing dry eye disease (DED) presentations including ocular neuropathic pain (ONP). Topical Proxymetacaine offers a simple, readily available and practical method of detecting ONP in practice and can be used to differentiate ONP from DED by eyecare practitioners, when accompanied with an anterior segment examination. Background Differentiating DED from ONP presents a significant opportunity to eyecare providers, allowing appropriate treatment choices for more adequate symptom control, greater patient satisfaction, and reduced emergent re-presentations. This study aims to differentiate patients presenting with DED symptoms into DED or ONP using a simple diagnostic tool, which can be used in practice to allocate appropriate treatment options for the patient’s respective condition. A comparison of the prevalence of presentations of ONP presenting with DED symptoms in hospital ophthalmology settings and in optometric primary care settings will also be made. Methods Patients with symptoms of DED were opportunistically recruited as they presented to ophthalmology outpatient clinics and primary care optometric services. Patients were then categorised as DED, ONP, or mixed DED/ONP based on their subjective response 30 seconds post-Proxymetacaine Hydrochloride 2% instillation. Results Twenty-one patients were recruited, including 12 patients from ophthalmologic outpatient clinics and nine patients from primary care optometric services. Twelve patients were identified to have primary DED, while nine patients were identified to have ONP. 43% of patients presenting with DED symptoms had features of neuropathic pain in ophthalmologic outpatient presentations compared to 44% of patients in primary care optometric services. Conclusion Categorising DED and ONP patients by their response to Proxymetacaine can be used as a simple diagnostic tool in guiding future patient management and can be indicative of their potential response to topical therapies. The use of topical Proxymetacaine and the resultant change in ocular pain score can facilitate selection of patients who may benefit from centrally acting neuropathic pain agents over topical ocular therapy.

Treatment of Non-Infectious Corneal Injury: Review of Diagnostic Agents, Therapeutic Medications, and Future Targets.

Corneal injuries can occur secondary to traumatic, chemical, inflammatory, metabolic, autoimmune, and iatrogenic causes. Ocular infection may frequently occur concurrent to corneal injury; however, antimicrobial agents are excluded from this present review. While practitioners may primarily rely on clinical examination techniques to assess these injuries, several pharmacological agents, such as fluorescein, lissamine green, and rose bengal, can be used to formulate a diagnosis and develop effective treatment strategies. Practitioners may choose from several analgesic medications to help with patient comfort without risking further injury or delaying ocular healing. Atropine, cyclopentolate, scopolamine, and homatropine are among the most frequently used medications for this purpose. Additional topical analgesic agents may be used judiciously to augment patient comfort to facilitate diagnosis. Steroidal anti-inflammatory agents are frequently used as part of the therapeutic regimen. A variety of commonly used agents, including prednisolone acetate, loteprednol, difluprednate, dexamethasone, fluorometholone, and methylprednisolone are discussed. While these medications are effective for controlling ocular inflammation, side effects, such as elevated intraocular pressure and cataract formation, must be monitored by clinicians. Non-steroidal medications, such as ketorolac, bromfenac, nepafenac, and diclofenac, are additionally used for their efficacy in controlling ocular inflammation without incurring side effects seen with steroids. However, these agents have their own respective side effects, warranting close monitoring by clinicians. Additionally, ophthalmologists routinely employ several agents in an off-label manner for supplementary control of inflammation and treatment of corneal injuries. Patients with corneal injuries not infrequently have significant ocular surface disease, either as a concurrent pathology or as an exacerbation of previously existing disease. Several agents used in the management of ocular surface disease have also been found to be useful as part of the therapeutic armamentarium for treatment of corneal injuries. For example, several antibiotics, such as doxycycline and macrolides, have been used for their anti-inflammatory effects on specific cytokines that are upregulated during acute injuries. There has been a recent wave of interest in amniotic membrane therapies (AMTs), including topical, cryopreserved and dehydrated variants. AMT is particularly effective in ocular injuries with violation of corneal surface integrity due to its ability to promote re-epithelialization of the corneal epithelium. Blood-based therapies, including autologous serum tears, plasma-enriched growth factor eyedrops and autologous blood drops, have additionally been explored in small case series for effectiveness in challenging and recalcitrant cases. Protection of the ocular surface is also a vital component in the treatment of corneal injuries. Temporary protective methods, such as bandage contact lenses and mechanical closure of the eyelids (tarsorrhaphy) can be particularly helpful in selective cases. Glue therapies, including biologic and non-biologic variants, can also be used in cases of severe injury and risk of corneal perforation. Finally, there are a variety of recently introduced and in-development agents that may be used as adjuvant therapies in challenging patient populations. Neurotrophic corneal disease may occur as a result of severe or chronic injury. In such cases, recombinant human nerve growth factor (cenegermin), topical insulin, and several other novel agents may be an alternate and effective option for clinicians to consider.

TFOS: Unique challenges and unmet needs for the management of ocular surface diseases throughout the world

TFOS: Unique challenges and unmet needs for the management of ocular surface diseases throughout the world

Effectiveness of Topical Chemotherapy in Pigmented and Scamous Lesions of the Ocular Surface: Literature Review

The standard of care for the treatment of ocular surface lesions seems to have changed from surgery to topical chemotherapeutic agents as supplements to it or even as sole therapy, despite the scarcity of long-term studies in the published literature. A search in the academic search engines of PubMed, Google academic and Cochrene, of articles published in English language from the years 1997 to 2020 on chemotherapeutic management of ocular surface diseases.

Miniscleral Contact Lens in Pediatric Age Group: Indications, Safety, and Efficacy.

To report indications, fitting feasibility, and safety of miniscleral design (MSD) lenses in children. Medical records of patients aged <18 years at the time of referral to Contact Lens Clinic of Farabi Eye Hospital, because of inadequate spectacle-corrected visual acuity, rigid gas-permeable or soft contact lens intolerance, and ocular surface disease were reviewed. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), best-corrected vision with the lens (CCVA), lens parameters, and comfortable daily wearing time (CDWT) were documented. Seventy-two eyes of 52 pediatric patients were fitted with MSD lens over a 9-year period. The indications for MSD lens fitting were keratoconus (29 eyes), corneal scarring from ocular trauma (16 eyes), ocular surface diseases (25 eyes), and postkeratitis corneal scar (2 eyes). The average UCVA and the mean difference between CCVA and BSCVA were 1.20 and 0.55 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution, respectively, which shows statistically significant improvement. This significant increase in vision was even seen in those who were referred for the management of ocular surface diseases. The mean CDWT for most patients was 10 hr/day. Miniscleral design lens can be used as a safe and helpful modality to provide good vision and comfort in children experiencing ectatic disorders, traumatic corneal scars, and ocular surface diseases.

Smart contact lens and transparent heat patch for remote monitoring and therapy of chronic ocular surface inflammation using mobiles.

Wearable electronic devices that can monitor physiological signals of the human body to provide biomedical information have been drawing extensive interests for sustainable personal health management. Here, we report a human pilot trial of a soft, smart contact lens and a skin-attachable therapeutic device for wireless monitoring and therapy of chronic ocular surface inflammation (OSI). As a diagnostic device, this smart contact lens enables real-time measurement of the concentration of matrix metalloproteinase-9, a biomarker for OSI, in tears using a graphene field-effect transistor. As a therapeutic device, we also fabricated a stretchable and transparent heat patch attachable on the human eyelid conformably. Both diagnostic and therapeutic devices can be incorporated using a smartphone for their wireless communications, thereby achieving instantaneous diagnosis of OSI and automated hyperthermia treatments. Furthermore, in vivo tests using live animals and human subjects confirm their good biocompatibility and reliability as a noninvasive, mobile health care solution.

Use of autologous plasma rich in growth factors fibrin membrane in the surgical management of ocular surface diseases.

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the surgical use of autologous plasma rich in growth factors fibrin membrane (mPRGF) in improving corneal wound healing and regeneration in a variety of complex ocular surface defects. Chart review on 15 eyes of 14 included patients undergoing ocular surface intervention using intraoperative mPRGF at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and at the Instituto Oftalmológico Fernández-Vega was performed. Patients were grouped based on type of intervention or condition (penetrating keratoplasty, superficial keratectomy, neurotrophic or persistent corneal ulcers, and corneal perforation). Patients were followed for an average of 11 ± 5months. Main outcomes measured were mPRGF dissolving time, best-corrected visual acuity, and evidence of any persistent epithelial defects, rejections, or complications. All 15 eyes underwent successful placement of mPRGF. Average dissolving time for fibrin membrane was 21 ± 3days. mPRGF resulted in total healing of the corneal defects in 13/15 (86.7%) of the treated eyes and partial healing in 2/15 (13.3%) eyes in which persistent epithelial defects were noted on follow-up. Visual acuity improvement was seen in 9/15 (60%) of the cases. The use of autologous mPRGF in the healing and regeneration of the ocular surface is a secure and efficacious surgical option. Our data demonstrate that PRGF fibrin membrane should be contemplated as an important tool to optimize ocular surface regeneration in complex cases.

New strategies for the management of ocular surface disease in glaucoma patients.

Glaucoma patients commonly suffer from ocular surface disease (OSD). As treatment strategies, medications and devices for the treatment of OSD as well as glaucoma surgical approaches evolve rapidly, it is important to consider their application to these patients. OSD in glaucoma patients may lead to reduced reliability of diagnostic tests, decreased medication compliance, poor surgical outcomes, and overall decreased quality of life. Chronic use of topical glaucoma medications has been linked to the development of limbal stem cell deficiency, and the role of preservatives in OSD continues to be demonstrated. Preservative free glaucoma medications as well as new anti-inflammatory agents for the treatment of OSD are now available. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and punctal plugs have been shown to benefit glaucoma patients with OSD. Drop burden may be reduced through the use of the new sustained-release delivery systems, selective laser trabeculoplasty, and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery. There are multiple emerging strategies for managing OSD that may be applied to patients with glaucoma. With continued research and clinical experiences, we hope to better understand the multifaceted relationship between glaucoma and OSD and develop evidence-based algorithms for the management of these complex patients.

Management of Ocular Surface Disease in Glaucoma: A Survey of Canadian Glaucoma Specialists.

To assess the attitudes, knowledge, and level of comfort of Canadian glaucoma specialists with respect to the assessment and management of OSD among patients with glaucoma. Ophthalmologist members of the Canadian Glaucoma Society with fellowship training in glaucoma were contacted to participate in this cross-sectional survey study. Responses were recorded to statements regarding attitudes toward OSD in glaucoma, and assessment and management modalities. These were recorded primarily in the form of a Likert scale rated 1 to 7 from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree." Descriptive statistics were generated, and mean and SD for responses on Likert scales. Thirty-six responses were included. All respondents agreed that comprehensive management of OSD could improve quality of life, 97% agreed it could lead to better glaucoma outcomes, whereas only 22% agreed it is presently being adequately managed in glaucoma practices. Respondents were asked to list all treatment modalities they felt knowledgeable about, ranging from 100% for optimizing topical glaucoma therapies to 31% for serum tears. Nearly all respondents (92%) agreed that a suggested algorithm for the treatment of OSD in glaucoma could improve their approach to management. OSD is a common comorbidity of glaucoma. Although respondents overwhelmingly agreed that comprehensive management of OSD may lead to improved quality of life and glaucoma-related outcomes, only a small percentage felt it was presently adequately managed. Increasing knowledge related to the assessment and management of OSD in glaucoma may in the future improve patient care.

Clinical Outcomes of Scleral Lens Fitting with a Data-driven, Quadrant-specific Design: Multicenter Review.

Alignment of the scleral lens haptic with the anterior ocular surface is of critical importance when fitting scleral lenses. The concept of leveraging big-data analysis to drive lens design is explored in this study. This retrospective study evaluated fitting outcomes of a data-driven, quadrant-specific scleral lens design and found that most patients (76%) were successfully fit with this design. The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical outcomes with a data-driven, quadrant-specific scleral lens design compared with traditional lens designs. For this multicenter retrospective observational study, A REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) survey was distributed to scleral lens practitioners who participated in β testing of a data-driven, quadrant-specific scleral lens design (study lens) between June 1, 2016, and January 31, 2017. Descriptive data were collected, and patient-reported outcomes, visual acuity, and lens design outcomes achieved with the study lens were described. Seventy-five patients (85 eyes) were fit with the study lens design between June 2016 and January 2017. Mean patient age was 47 years (range, 17 to 77 years). Forty-six were male, and 29 were female. Seventy-six eyes (89%) were fit for corneal irregularity, whereas nine eyes (11%) were fit for management of ocular surface disease. Compared with habitual correction, 22% more eyes achieved 20/20 or better, and 21% more eyes achieved 20/40 or better. There was also a 60% decrease in the need for midday removal with the study lens. An average of two lenses were manufactured per eye to complete the fitting process. Using a data-driven, quadrant-specific scleral lens resulted in visual improvement, a reduced need for midday removal, and an average of two lenses needed to complete the fitting process. Longer-term clinical outcomes and the use of big-data analysis to inform scleral lens design should be further explored.

Novel Approaches for Imaging-Based Diagnosis of Ocular Surface Disease.

Imaging has become indispensable in the diagnosis and management of diseases in the posterior part of the eye. In recent years, imaging techniques for the anterior segment are also gaining importance and are nowadays routinely used in clinical practice. Ocular surface disease is often synonymous with dry eye disease, but also refers to other conditions of the ocular surface, such as Meibomian gland dysfunction or keratitis and conjunctivitis with different underlying causes, i.e., allergies or infections. Therefore, correct differential diagnosis and treatment of ocular surface diseases is crucial, for which imaging can be a helpful tool. A variety of imaging techniques have been introduced to study the ocular surface, such as anterior segment optical coherence tomography, in vivo confocal microscopy, or non-contact meibography. The present review provides an overview on how these techniques can be used in the diagnosis and management of ocular surface disease and compares them to clinical standard methods such as slit lamp examination or staining of the cornea or conjunctiva. Although being more cost-intensive in the short term, in the long term, the use of ocular imaging can lead to more individualized diagnoses and treatment decisions, which in turn are beneficial for affected patients as well as for the healthcare system. In addition, imaging is more objective and provides good documentation, leading to an improvement in patient follow-up and education.

Ophthalmic manifestations and management of common and rare autoimmune syndromes.

This article reviews the ocular findings in patients with a myriad of autoimmune syndromes. This review will provide guidance and heighten awareness for the allergist or eye care provider to pay heed to the manifestations and treatments of autoimmune syndromes. Autoimmune syndromes can present with varied manifestations on the ocular surface known to potentially cause significant visual morbidity. In particular, sterile corneal ulcers are the most devastating and common finding in uncontrolled autoimmune disease. Ophthalmic manifestations of autoimmune syndromes have been reported individually; however, herein we present a comprehensive review of typical and atypical syndromes that may present with sterile corneal ulceration. Autoimmune inflammatory syndromes are known to be associated with ocular surface inflammatory processes ranging from bothersome dry eye syndromes to vision-threatening sterile corneal ulceration. It is important to pay heed to the clinical presentation of common and uncommon presentations of the syndromes in the eye. We propose best practice for management of ocular surface disease in these clinical entities.

Conjunctival flap surgery in the management of ocular surface disease (Review).

Literature regarding conjunctival flap surgery was reviewed to describe and discuss the rationale for this type of procedure. The conjunctival flap is an acknowledged surgery for the treatment of various corneal diseases with a chronically compromised ocular surface, such as severe dry eye, neurotrophic or neuroparalytic disease, or bullous keratopathy. The purpose of this surgery is to restore the integrity of the corneal surface and thus to prevent gradual corneal ulceration and secondary infection, as well as to ameliorate pain, reduce the need for frequent medications, improve cosmetic appearance, and offer an alternative to invasive surgery or enucleation. Since the introduction of more effective methods of treating severe ocular surface diseases, conjunctival flap surgery has rarely been the primary modality of treatment and has usually followed a range of medical and surgical treatments. The availability of improved ocular lubricants, more effective antimicrobials, bandage contact lenses, tissue adhesives, and other corneal and conjunctival surgical interventions, has reduced the need for conjunctival flaps. However, conjunctival flaps remain extremely useful in selected cases and deserve a place in the ophthalmologist's repertoire for the management of ocular surface disease.

Long-term Outcomes of Punctal Cauterization in the Management of Ocular Surface Diseases.

To evaluate the long-term outcomes of surgical occlusion of lacrimal puncta using thermal cautery in the management of ocular surface diseases. We reviewed medical records of 80 consecutive patients from a single academic center who underwent punctal cauterization. Patient demographics, ocular history, symptoms, and signs of ocular surface diseases pre- and post-cauterization were recorded. A total of 80 patients (171 puncta) were included, with an average age of 59 years and a follow-up duration of 27 months. The most common ocular morbidity was ocular graft-versus-host disease (n = 36), followed by primary keratoconjunctivitis sicca (n = 15). Indications for punctal cauterization included plug loss (n = 51), difficulty in plug fitting (n = 11), plug-related complications (n = 6), recanalization of previous cauterization (n = 7), and severe ocular surface disease requiring permanent punctal closure (n = 4). After punctal cauterization, the percentage of eyes with severe (21%) and moderate (25%) dry eye decreased significantly (8% and 19% at 3 months and 6% and 17% at 12 months, P = 0.0006). Fifty-four percent of patients reported improvement in their symptoms. The rate of recanalization was 21% during the follow-up period. The use of topical corticosteroids was associated with higher recanalization rate. Associated complications were limited to temporary pain and swelling. Punctal cauterization is an effective modality in treating severe ocular surface diseases in patients who repeatedly lose punctal plugs, and it can be easily performed in a clinic setting without major complications. However, cauterization may need to be repeated in up to a quarter of cases because of recanalization.