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Purpose: To report the clinical features and operative findings of a series of patients with lacrimal sac mucoceles extending above the anatomic level of the medial canthal tendon (MCT)., Methods: A retrospective chart review of all patients presenting with lacrimal sac mucocele extending above the anatomic level of the MCT over a period of five years from 2019 and 2023. All patients underwent surgical management. Diagnosis of lacrimal sac mucocele was based on clinical examination, imaging where indicated and intraoperative confirmation.  Data obtained include demographics, clinical presentations, duration, imaging features, type of surgical intervention, intraoperative findings, and outcomes., Results: A total of 62 patients were analyzed, of whom 67.7% were female. The mean age at presentation was 49.11 years. The mean duration of the lacrimal sac swelling was 18.15 months (SD = 21.94). Epiphora, discharge, and dacryocystitis were frequent associations. Regurgitation on Pressure over the lacrimal sac area (ROPLAS) decompressed the swelling   in 35 (56.5%) patients.In 61.3% of patients, the medial canthus remained in its normal position, while the medial canthal tendon (MCT) exerted pressure on the overextending mucocele to varying degrees, resulting in a dumbbell-shaped appearance in certain cases. In 38.7% of patients, the mucocele caused superior displacement of the medial canthus compared to the contralateral side. The surgical interventions were successful in resolving the mucocele., Conclusions: Lacrimal sac mucoceles can extend above the level of the MCT. While a lacrimal sac swelling above the MCT should raise suspicion for a mass lesion of neoplastic etiology, it is not a tell-tale sign.

3p deletion syndrome or deletion 3p25-pter syndrome is an exceptionally rare genetic disorder characterized by deletion of the distal segment of the short arm of chromosome 3. There are less than a hundred reported cases worldwide. Clinical characteristics include severe physical and mental retardation, trigonocephaly, micrognathia, and diffuse hypotonia. The common ocular manifestations include congenital ptosis and canthal anomalies. To the best of the authors' knowledge, no lacrimal drainage anomalies have been reported earlier. The present case describes proximal lacrimal drainage anomalies in a patient with 3p deletion syndrome. The patient was successfully managed with membranotomy and punctal and canalicular dilatation, resulting in a complete resolution of epiphora.

Pierre-Robin sequence consists of a classical triad of micrognathia, glossoptosis, and upper airway obstruction. The common ocular manifestations include congenital glaucoma, high myopia, maculopathy, and retinal detachment. Except for a mention of a nasolacrimal duct obstruction without many details, lacrimal drainage anomalies have not been reported earlier to the best of the authors' knowledge. The present case describes several lacrimal drainage anomalies including supernumerary puncta, canalicular wall hypoplasia, grossly dilated nasolacrimal duct, and complex congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction in a patient of Pierre Robin sequence. The patient was successfully managed with endoscopic guided probing and marsupialization of the large intranasal cyst resulting in a complete resolution of epiphora.

Purpose: To discuss the clinical spectrum and management strategies in patients with post-traumatic canalicular fistula (PTCF)., Methods: Retrospective, interventional case series of consecutive patients diagnosed with PTCF over a 6-year study period between June 2016 and June 2022. The demographics, mode of injury, location, and communication of the canalicular fistula were noted. The outcomes of several management modalities including dacryocystorhinostomy, lacrimal gland therapies, and conservative approaches were assessed., Results: Eleven cases with PTCF over the study period were included. The mean age at presentation was 23.5 years (range: 6-71 years), with male: female ratio of 8:3. The median time interval between trauma to presentation at the Dacryology clinic was 3 years (range: 1 week to 12 years). Seven had iatrogenic trauma and four had the canalicular fistula following primary trauma. Management modalities pursued include conservative approach for minimal symptoms, and dacryocystorhinostomy, dacryocystectomy, and lacrimal gland botulinum toxin injection. The mean follow-up period was 30 months (range: 3-months-6 years)., Conclusion: PTCF is a complex lacrimal condition and the management of the PTCF needs a tailored approach guided by its nature and location and patient symptomatology.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of botulinum toxin (BTX) and partial orbital lobe dacryoadenectomy (POLD) on the main lacrimal gland functions using the direct assessment of its secretory activity., Methods: A pilot study involving 14 subjects (mean age, 42.16 years) with proximal bicanalicular block ( n  = 9) or complete punctal effacement ( n  = 5) received either intraglandular 2.5 units of BTX ( n  = 7) or underwent the POLD procedure ( n  = 7). Dynamic assessment of tear secretion from the palpebral lobes was performed as per standard protocols. The parameters studied included Schirmer I, changes in the glandular outflow, and the neurosensory secretory lag., Results: Schirmer I values showed a mean reduction of 5.25 mm (range, 2-8 mm) following BTX injection, and mean tear flow decreased from 1.46 μ l / min to 1.11 μ l / min ( P  = 0.15). The POLD group showed a significant mean reduction of 0.45 μ l / min in mean tear flow at 1 month ( P  = 0.03) and 0.32 μ l / min at 3 months of follow-up ( P  = 0.20). However, there was no statistically significant change of the Schirmer values in the POLD group at 3 months., Conclusion: Direct assessment of lacrimal gland function can be used to monitor changes following the gland therapies. Although POLD shows a significant reduction in short term, significant surgical improvisation would be needed for it to be effective in long term. A larger study is ongoing to further our understanding.

Purpose: To exclusively report the clinical category of mechanical secondary acquired lacrimal duct obstruction (SALDO) secondary to the caruncle and plica hypertrophy., Methods: Prospective interventional case series involving 10 consecutive eyes with megalocaruncle and plica hypertrophy were enrolled in the study. All patients presented with epiphora secondary to a demonstratable mechanical obstruction of the puncta. All patients underwent high magnification slit-lamp photography and Fourier-domain ocular coherence tomography scans (FD-OCT) of the tear meniscus height (TMH) pre- and post-operatively at 1-month and 3-months. Caruncle and plica size, position, and their relationship to the puncta were noted. All patients underwent partial carunculectomy. Primary outcome measures were demonstrable resolution of the mechanical obstruction of the puncta and the reduction in the tear meniscus height. The secondary outcome measure was the subjective improvement of the epiphora., Results: The mean age of the patients was 67 years (range: 63-72 years). The average TMH was 843.1 (range: 345-2049) microns pre-operatively and 195.1(91-379) microns at 1-month follow-up. All patients reported significant subjective improvement in epiphora at 6-months follow-up. One patient had bilateral granuloma at the surgical site at two weeks and was managed by simple excision and topical tapering steroids. Histopathology revealed hyperplastic epithelium with goblet cells with chronic inflammatory cells in the sub-epithelial region and the stroma., Conclusion: The role of the caruncle in the causation of mechanical SALDO needs to be carefully assessed in patients beyond the sixth decade. Excellent objective and subjective outcomes can be achieved by a partial carunculectomy and plica semilunaris excision.

Punctal keratin cyst (PKC) is a rare disorder believed to be due to ectasia of the vertical canaliculus. The etiopathogenesis of this disorder is very poorly understood due to the paucity of literature. To the best of authors' knowledge, only two cases of punctal keratin cyst have been described earlier, which presented as cystic lesions. The authors report four cases of punctal keratin cyst which differ in clinical presentation and also describe the anterior segment ocular tomography features, which aids in recognition and diagnosis of this rare disorder. The key message of the article is that lack of a defined cyst on clinical examination and optical coherence tomography (OCT) cannot rule out the presence of a PKC. A combination of clinical, radiology, and histopathology are confirmative of the diagnosis. Once diagnosed, the subsequent outcomes with membranotomy and keratin curettage are excellent.

Purpose: To investigate the presence of septae within the lacrimal abscess and to explore simple aspiration as an alternative to the traditional management by incision and drainage., Methods: Prospective, interventional pilot study involved eight lacrimal sac abscesses of eight patients over a period of three months. All patients underwent a pre-operative MRI with surface coils followed by aspiration of the abscess ( n  = 4) or incision and drainage of the abscess ( n  = 4). An intra-sac endoscopic evaluation was performed during the abscess drainage. Primary outcome measures - presence or absence of septae on MRI scan images and endoscopic evaluation of the abscess cavity. Secondary outcome measures - relief from pain and symptoms following aspiration and anatomical patency following definitive management., Results: Eight patients underwent either aspiration ( n  = 4) or incision and drainage of the abscess ( n  = 4). Mean age of the patients 43.3 years and male to female ratio was 1:1. Left eye involvement was more common (Right: left = 1:3). Average duration of acute symptoms - 3.75 days. High resolution MRI showed a well- defined abscess cavity with few undulations which on endoscopic evaluation correlated with oedematous mucosal folds. There was absence of a loculi or septae within the abscess cavity. Definitive surgery in the form of endoscopic DCR was performed for all the patients with post-operative FICI grading was +5., Conclusion: The present study refutes the presence of septae within the abscess cavity and proposes aspiration of the lacrimal sac abscess as a minimally invasive procedure with minimal logistics and a shallow learning curve.

Purpose: To classify the acquired lacrimal fistulae (ALF) and assess the outcomes following surgical management., Methods: Retrospective, interventional study of all patients presenting with ALF over a 3.5-year period was performed. The fistulae were classified based on photographic evidence with respect to their location, size and nature. Primary outcome measures were complete healing of the fistulous opening and resolution of discharge or leakage from it. Secondary outcome measures were resolution of epiphora and patency of the lacrimal drainage system., Results: 84 eyes of 82 patients who had acquired lacrimal fistulae were analysed. The mean duration of the fistulae presence was 10.12 months. The etiology of ALF was spontaneous following lacrimal abscess rupture in 79 eyes and was secondary to incision and drainage in the remaining 5 eyes. Thirty eyes had fistulectomy along with definitive surgery for the associated nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO), 15 eyes underwent definitive surgery without an additional fistulectomy and 4 fistulae healed spontaneously prior to intervention for NLDO. The resolution of ALF did not differ in between those who underwent fistulectomy versus those who did not. The exceptions were 2 chronic large fistulae with cutaneous lining which needed a definite fistulectomy for resolution along with surgery for NLDO., Conclusion: Most of the acquired fistulae heal by themselves irrespective of the nature, size and location and need no additional treatment in the form of fistulectomy. However, this is not true for those that are large and have a cutaneous lining.

Purpose: To present first of its kind series on the clinical features and outcomes of lacrimal drainage disorders in Peters anomaly and Peters plus syndrome., Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of all consecutive patients who were known cases of Peters anomaly or Peters plus anomaly and were diagnosed with associated congenital lacrimal drainage disorders. The study period was from June 2016 to Dec 2020. All these patients underwent examination under anaesthesia for a detailed assessment of lacrimal drainage anomalies. Where indicated, they were treated with probing, intubation, or in refractory patients with a dacryocystorhinostomy. The anatomical and functional outcomes were assessed., Results: Of the 282 patients with Peters anomaly, 4 (1.4%) patients had associated lacrimal drainage system anomalies while of the 16 Peters plus anomaly children, 3 (18.75%) had associated lacrimal drainage system anomalies. A total of 12 lacrimal drainage systems of 12 eyes of 7 patients of Peters anomaly were found to be involved. Upper or lower punctal agenesis were noted in 3 eyes. Three eyes had complex congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO), two of which had a bony NLD block and one had a misdirected nasolacrimal duct through the inferior turbinate. One eye had a diffuse NLD stenosis without a CNLDO. Following appropriate management, at a mean follow-up of 25.7 months (range: 3-48 months), all the eyes except one (91%, 10/11) demonstrated anatomical and functional success., Conclusion: Lacrimal drainage involvement was more common in Peters plus syndrome. Multiple proximal and distal lacrimal drainage segment anomalies were noted in all the variants of Peters anomaly; however, Peters plus syndrome was noted to usually involve both the segments.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a congenital syndrome with systemic manifestations secondary to a non-progressive lesion of the immature brain. It is associated with numerous cerebral and non-cerebral malformations. The present report describes a 2-year-old baby with spastic CP, diplegic type, associated with congenital cardiac malformations and right eye complex congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO) (bony nasolacrimal duct stenosis and buried probe) requiring endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy and left eye simple CNLDO which resolved on probing the system. This report also lays emphasis on the need for examination of the lacrimal drainage system in all patients with CP, so as to treat them appropriately and reduce the morbidity.

Proboscis lateralis is an exceptionally rare congenital anomaly characterized mostly by a nose-like tubular appendage, ipsilateral deformed nose and ocular anomalies, believed to be secondary to fusion defects involving the embryonic maxillary process. To the best of authors' knowledge, only one report with some description of the lacrimal drainage anomalies in proboscis lateralis exists in literature and the present case describes these anomaliesin detail.

A 46-year-old lady presented with progressively growing mass from the inner side of the right upper eyelid. The mass was elevated, pinkish with surface vessels, engulfing the puncta. Careful evaluation revealed a patent punctal opening. Excision biopsy of the mass was carried out. Histopathology showed pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia with few inflammatory cells. We describe a case of punctal pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia masquerading as a punctal granuloma or papilloma.

Objective: To describe the outcomes of punctal dilatation and non-incisional canalicular curettage in patients with infectious canaliculitis., Methods: A retrospective analysis of 53 canaliculi of 47 eyes of 46 consecutive patients diagnosed with canaliculitis was performed from November 2015 to December 2018. All patients were treated with punctal dilatation and a non-incisional canalicular curettage. Parameters studied include demographics, clinical presentation, microbiological analysis, management and treatment outcomes. The outcome measures were clinical resolution of canaliculitis and resolution of epiphora., Results: The mean age at presentation was 59.34 years with female preponderance (M:F = 19:28). Left eye was more affected (64%, n = 30) as compared to the right (36%, n = 17). Only one patient presented bilaterally. Lower canaliculus was most commonly involved (68%, n = 32). Six eyes showed involvement of both upper and lower canaliculus. Presenting symptoms include discharge (81%), swelling of the eyelids (64%), watering (55%), redness (51%) and pain (39%). Punctal dilatation and non-incisional canalicular curettage were performed using punctum dilator and a small chalazion scoop (1 mm Meyhoefer chalazion curette). Of the 53 involved canaliculi, 14 canaliculi of 14 eyes underwent a repeat curettage for complete resolution and 1 canaliculus underwent the same procedure thrice. The most common micro-organisms isolated were Streptococci species (28% cases). At a mean follow-up of 6.8 months, resolution of canaliculitis was achieved in all patients; however, epiphora persisted in two eyes (4%)., Conclusion: Non-incisional canalicular curettage is a minimally invasive technique with good preservation of the punctal and canalicular anatomy. It also facilitates good anatomical and functional outcomes in infectious canaliculitis.

Canaliculops is a non-inflammatory dilatation of the canaliculus which can be secondary to trauma, punctal agenesis, herpetic infections or chronic drug use. This condition can affect either canaliculi and has shown female preponderance. Treatment described so far has consisted of cyst marsupialization with no literature on the post-operative epiphora in these cases. We describe two cases of canaliculops with punctal agenesis where we have tried to establish lacrimal patency.

Primary adenocarcinoma of the lacrimal drainage system is a rare malignancy. Poorly differentiated subtypes of this tumor demonstrate aggressive behaviors, and metastasis is not uncommon. We present a patient with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal duct with an orbital extension. The case was managed by a combined external and endoscopic approach excision followed by adjuvant radiotherapy.

Purpose: The purpose of the article is to report the outcomes of powered endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (PEnDCR) in pediatric patients., Methods: A single-center, single surgeon, retrospective, interventional, non-comparative case series was performed on all pediatric patients who underwent PEnDCR between July 2014 and July 2017. Patients with associated congenital anomalies like single punctum agenesis or lacrimal fistula were excluded. Surgery was performed as per standard protocols published earlier. Data collected include demographics, clinical presentations, past interventions, indications for the surgery, intraoperative and postoperative complications, postoperative ostium characteristics, and anatomical and functional success., Results: Ninety-one eyes of 83 children underwent PEnDCR during the study period. Mean age was 8.32 years and epiphora was the most common presentation (81%, 74/91). The most common indication for PEnDCR was persistent congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction refractory to earlier interventions of probing or intubation. Postoperative ostium assessment at 4 weeks showed a well-healed ostium with a dynamic internal common opening in 86.8% of the eyes. Edge granulomas of the ostium were the most common abnormal finding in the postoperative period (9.8%, 9/91) and all except one could be managed conservatively. At 6 months follow-up, five eyes showed anatomical failure and additional two eyes showeXd functional failure. Two of anatomical failure group and one of functional failure underwent a second intervention. The final anatomical and functional success were noted in 96.7% (88/91) and 95.6% (87/91), respectively., Conclusions: This study shows that PEnDCR is a safe surgery for pediatric populations with a high success rate of beyond 95%.