Acupuncture Treatment for 34 Cases of Epiphora with Dysfunction of Lacrimal Duct

We have treated 34 cases of epiphora due to dysfunction of the lacrimal duct with a warm needle puncturing at the Jingming (UB 1) point. The effect was significantly better than that of the control group treated with lacrimal duct irrigation and norflaxacin eye drops (a total effective rate of 91.07% vs. 54.29%).

TREATMENT OF EPIPHORA DUE TO INSUFFICIENCY OF LACRIMAL PASSAGE BY ACUPUNCTURE AT JINGMING

Since 1995,the authors have employed acupuncture at Jingming(UB 1)with the warmingneedles to treat epiphora due to insufficiency of lacrimal passages.Of the 68 treated eyesin 42 patients,28 eyes were cured,35 improved,and 5 ineffective with a total effective rateof 92.65%;and 12 eyes were cured and 34 improved by only one course of treatment.

Etiology,diagnosis, management and outcomes of epiphora referrals to an oculoplastic practice

AIM： To investigate the etiology, diagnosis, management and outcome of epiphora referrals to an oculoplastic practice.METHODS： Retrospective chart review of patients referred for epiphora to an oculoplastic clinic between 2005 and 2009. Patient demographics, past history, ophthalmic examination, treatment and outcome were analyzed.RESULTS： There were 237 subjects with a primary complaint of epiphora. They included 130 （55%） females and 107 （45%） males with an average age of 55.9±25.9y. The most common cause of epiphora was lacrimal obstruction （46%）; followed by multifactorial epiphora （22%）, reflex tearing （22%） and eyelid malposition （11%）. Differences in prevalence of etiology were noted in terms of age and gender distribution. Of the 182 （77%） patients who returned for follow up, 41 （23%） reported a complete resolution and 102 （56%） reported a significant improvement in their symptoms.CONCLUSION： Epiphora is a common condition with many causes. A thorough history and examination are required to provide the appropriate treatment tailored to the underlying cause.

Diagnosis and therapy of lacrimal system diseases by micro lacrimal endoscope

The lacrimal endoscope is applied to the diagnosis and therapy of the disorders of the lacrimal system in combination with laser or micro drills under orthophoria.The changes of mucous membranes,the characteristics of pathological changes and the predilection sites of lacrimal system diseases were initially approached.One hundred and forty six pairs of eyes of 128 patients with lacrimal system disease were observed by the lacrimal endoscope in the Ophthalmology Department of Tongji Hospital from June 2006 to March 2007.The dynamic changes in mucous membranes,lesion sites,secreted substances and formation of membrane could be observed under orthophoria.Combined with laser or micro drill,the endoscope was applied to the therapy of lacrimal system disorders and the difference before and after the treatment was observed.Results are as follows:(1)The examination and therapy using the lacrimal endoscope were completed under topical anesthesia in 122 patients,and 6 patients of neonatorum dacryocystitis were examined and treated under general anaesthesia.All patients reported painless.(2)Sharp images of the lacrimal system were obtained by the endoscope.Normal lacrimal mucosal membrane was smooth and light pink,expanded and unobstructed during irrigation.In chronic dacryocystitis patients,the inhomo-geneous colour of mucosal membranes was red and white,with different degrees offibrotic membranes at the superior,middle and inferior parts of the nasolacrimal canals and secreted substances at sac could be observed.The lacrimal ducts could not be expanded and obstructed during irrigation.The patients with lacrimal system obstruction had different extents of membrane formation,and stenosis or complete obstruction of the lacrimal duct could be observed,and the corresponding mucosal membrane was not smooth which could not be expanded and obstructed during irrigation.(3)After the treatment by the endoscope combined with laser or micro drill,the major proliferation of the membrane disappeared and the lacrimal duct was unobstructed during irrigation.The cure rate and effective rate were 80.1%and 93.1%,respectively.The lacrimal endoscope is a new method in the diagnosis of lacrimal system diseases.Through a combination with laser or micro drill to carry out the therapy under orthophoria,it will bring a great change to the diagnosis and therapy of lacrimal system diseases.