Abstract:

Objective To investigate the clinical etiology of epiphora complaint. Design Retrospective case series. Participants 189 adults (321 eyes) who complained of epiphora as the main symptoms were included from January 2013 to December 2014 in the Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University. Methods All the patients underwent questionnaire, extraocular examination, slit lamp microscope examination, nasal cavity examination and lavage of lacrimal passages. Those who had simultaneous dry eye symptoms or foreign body sensation and those whose tear river height was abnormally low under slit lamp examination underwent examinations of Schirmer I test (Sit) and tear break-up time (BUT). Main Outcome Measures Constituent ratio of etiology. Results The causes for epiphora were lacrimal duct stenosis or occlusion in 174 eyes(54.21%), dry eye syndrome for 27 eyes (8.41%), conjunctivochalasis in 8 eyes (2.49%), lacrimal caruncle hypertrophyin were conjunctivitism in 2 eyes (0.62%) , eyelid relaxation in 2 eyes (0.62%), of unilateral nasal diseases in 2 eyes (0.62%), conjunctivitis in 8 eyes (2.49%) , crocodile tears in 2 eyes (0.62%), visual fatigue in 20 eyes (6.23%). 76 eyes (23.68%) teared because of 2 kinds or more reasons: of which the lacrimal duct stenosis or obstruction with dry eye syndrome in 43 eyes (13.40%), lacrimal duct stenosis or obstruction and dry eye and conjunctivochalasis in 6 eyes (1.87%), lacrimal duct stenosis and dry eye and conjunctivitis in 2 eyes (0.62%), dry eye and conjunctivochalasis in 6 eyes (1.87%). Lacrimal duct stenosis or occlusion with conjunctivochalasis in 9 eyes (2.80%), conjunctivochalasis and lacrimal caruncle hypertrophy in 5 eyes (1.56%), lacrimal duct stenosis or occlusion with conjunctivochalasis and eyelid relaxation in 3 eyes (0.94%), lacrimal duct obstruction combined with lacrimal caruncle hypertrophy in 1 eye (0.31%), lacrimal duct obstruction with trichiasis in 1 eye (0.31%). Conclusion Lacrimal duct stenosis or obstruction is still the main reason for epiphora complaint. Dry eye syndrome combined with lacrimal duct stenosis or obstruction were the main reasons in multi-factors cases. （Ophthalmol CHN， 2016, 25： 343-346）

Key words: tears/etiology, lacrimal duct stenosis, lacrimal duct obstruction, dry eye