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To compare the outcomes of canaliculotomy and curettage with and without silicone tube intubation in the treatment of primary canaliculitis. A prospective, randomized, interventional case series was performed. Fifty patients diagnosed with unilateral inferior primary canaliculitis underwent canaliculotomy with curettage and were randomly divided into two groups depending on silicone tube intubation. Twenty-five patients were recruited in group A (without intubation) and 25 patients were recruited in group B (with intubation). The resolution of infection, the success rate and postoperative complications observed in both groups were analyzed with a minimum follow-up of 1 year. Forty-seven patients were finally included in the study consisting of 23 patients in group A and 24 patients in group B. There were 33 females and 14 males with a median age of 57 ± 13.9 years (range 29–89 years). All patients recorded complete resolution of canaliculitis and no recurrent infections were observed in the 2 groups during follow-up. A significantly higher number of anatomical and functional successes were achieved in patients in group B (100%, 87.5%) than in group A (78.3%, 60.9%) (P <.05,). The surgical complication of canalicular obstruction was significantly higher in patients in group A (21.7%, 5/23) compared to group B (0/24)(P <.05). Canaliculotomy with curettage gives excellent clinical outcomes in the treatment of patients with primary canaliculitis and a higher success rate can be achieved when silicone tube intubation is performed during the procedure. The use of silicone tube intubation may be a necessary choice in canaliculotomy to avoid post-operative canalicular obstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Primary canaliculitis is a chronic infection of the proximal lacrimal pathway. We aimed to evaluate surgical outcomes of a canaliculoplasty procedure for primary canaliculitis associated with canalicular dilatation. Methods This study enrolled 42 primary canaliculitis patients with canalicular dilatation who underwent canaliculoplasty. All patients were treated with canaliculotomy, curettage of canalicular contents and canaliculoplasty with stent placement. Patients’ demographics, clinical features, and follow-up outcomes were evaluated. Results There were 12 males and 30 females with a mean age of 66.1 ± 13.9 years. The mean duration time from the first onset of signs/symptoms to diagnosis was 30.6 ± 39.5 months. Epiphora (90.5%) and mucopurulent discharge from punctum (85.7%) were the most common signs. Thirty-three out of 42 patients (78.6%) achieved complete remission with a mean follow-up time of 25.3 ± 12.9 months. There were 3 patients found to have canalicular stenosis due to obstruction after surgery. Conclusion Canalicular dilatation is a severe condition of primary canaliculitis, probably due to a combined result of long standing disease and the presence of concretions. The surgical procedure of canaliculoplasty can be a highly effective treatment for primary canaliculitis associated with canalicular dilatation.

Background: Primary canaliculitis is a chronic infection of the proximal lacrimal pathway. We aimed to evaluate surgical outcomes of a canaliculoplasty procedure for primary canaliculitis associated with canalicular dilatation.Methods: This study enrolled 42 primary canaliculitis patients with canalicular dilatation who underwent canaliculoplasty. All patients were treated with canaliculotomy, curettage of canalicular contents and canaliculoplasty with stent placement. Patients' demographics, clinical features, and follow-up outcomes were evaluated.Results: There were 12 males and 30 females with a mean age of 66.1 ± 13.9 years. The mean duration time from the first onset of signs/symptoms to diagnosis was 30.6 ± 39.5 months. Epiphora (90.5%) and mucopurulent discharge from punctum (85.7%) were the most common signs. Thirty-three out of 42 patients (78.6%) achieved complete remission with a mean follow-up time of 25.3 ± 12.9 months. There were 3 patients found to have canalicular stenosis due to obstruction after surgery.Conclusion: Canalicular dilatation is a severe condition of primary canaliculitis, probably due to a combined result of long standing disease and the presence of concretions. The surgical procedure of canaliculoplasty can be a highly effective treatment for primary canaliculitis associated with canalicular dilatation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Ocular actinomycosis is an uncommon progressive infection. The study aims to investigate the predisposing factors, clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of culture-proven cases of Actinomycotic primary canaliculitis., Methods: Single-center, retrospective, interventional case series. Culture-proven cases of Actinomyces -associated primary canaliculitis diagnosed and treated between January 2017 and December 2021 at the Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Capital Medical University were identified and reviewed for ocular and systemic risk factors, clinical presentations, microbiological profile, treatment modalities and outcomes., Results: Of the 201 patients diagnosed with primary canaliculitis, 22 (10.9%) were caused by Actinomyces . The mean age at onset of 22 patients (21 women and one men) was 54 years. The lower canaliculus was most commonly involved (54.6%). The most frequent symptom was mattering without epiphora (77.3%) and clinical signs were punctal regurgitation of purulent discharge (100%) and expressible concretions (95.5%). Dry eye co-existed in 77.3% of patients, whereas no obvious systemic factors were found. Among 19 cases (86.0%) of identified Actinomyces species, A. odontolyticus (43.5%) was the predominant causative microorganism. There were 50% of patients with polymicrobial infection and the most common additional bacteria isolated were Streptococcus species. Conservative therapy combining repeated canalicular expression and irrigation with susceptible topical antibiotics achieved complete resolution in 86.4% of patients., Conclusions: Dry eye was identified in the vast majority of patients with Actinomycotic canaliculitis. Most cases are odontogenic in origin and the infection occurs in immunocompetent individuals. The conservative method combining canalicular expression and irrigation with topical susceptible antibiotics is recommendable as initial therapy., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

The present study aimed to examine the clinical and pathogenic characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of primary canaliculitis to provide further guidance for its clinical management. The present prospective study enrolled 50 patients (50 eyes) diagnosed with primary canaliculitis between May 2018 and April 2021 at Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Wuxi Clinical College of Nantong University, Wuxi, China. The patients' general clinicopathological information, clinical characteristics, microbiological profiles and treatment outcomes were analyzed and summarized. All the patients presented with persistent red eyes and eye discharge. Examination of discharge smears revealed that 96% of patients tested positive for Actinomyces and all smears were negative for fungi. Microbial cultures indicated that 82% of cases were positive for bacteria. A total of 51 bacterial strains were cultured; of these, 27.5% were aerobes, 35.3% were anaerobes and 37.2% were facultative anaerobes. A total of 56.9% of strains were gram-positive and 43.1% were gram-negative. The three most common bacteria, including Streptococcus spp., Capnocytophaga spp. and Propionibacterium, were analyzed. Only 3 cases (6%) of microbial cultures were positive for Actinomyces and all cases were negative for fungi in microbial cultures. Among the 50 cases, 45 were cured with conservative treatment [intracanalicular ointment infiltration (IOI)]. Five patients responded poorly to conservative treatment; however, they were cured with surgical treatment. In the current study, the majority of canaliculitis cases were caused by mixed infections, predominantly Actinomyces. The results revealed that the culture positivity rate of Actinomyces was low; however, the smear staining positivity rate was high. Fungus was smear- and culture-negative in all cases. In conclusion, patients with canaliculitis had a good prognosis after timely diagnosis and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to report the efficacy and safety of one-snip punctoplasty and 18-gauge irrigation technique in patients with primary canaliculitis., Methods: All patients diagnosed with primary canaliculitis between January 2020 and August 2021 at Inje University Busan Paik Hospital are included. All patients underwent one-snip punctoplasty and 18-gauge irrigation technique. After the procedure, patients had topical antibiotics. The resolution of symptoms and inflammatory signs and complications were evaluated 3 weeks after the procedure., Results: A total of 11 patients (eight female patients and three male patients, 14 canaliculi) aged 34 to 82 years with a mean age of 63.8 ± 15.7 years were participated. Common symptoms were epiphora, mucopurulent discharge, and injection, and common signs were discharge from punctum, pouting punctum, punctal erythema, and swellling. Among 14 canaliculi, 12 (85.7%) had complete resolution and two underwent second treatment which showed completed resolution after the treatment., Conclusions: One-snip punctoplasty and 18-gauge irrigation technique are minimally invasive to punctum and canaliculi and are a highly effective surgical procedure for patients with primary canaliculitis.