Epiphora after Uncomplicated Phacoemulsification: Study of Prevalence and Associated Factors.

PURPOSE: To describe the prevalence of epiphora and associated factors after uncomplicated phacoemulsification. METHODS: Prospective and descriptive design. A group of 125 patients was asked about tearing one to two weeks after cataract surgery. A comprehensive examination was performed on the patients who answered affirmatively. All patients were re-interviewed by phone after three months and those who complained of epiphora were explored again. RESULTS: Two weeks after surgery, prevalence of epiphora was 10.4%, but only 3.2% appeared after surgery. In patients with preoperative epiphora, the most frequently associated factors were ocular surface alterations (89%) and unctual and canalicular stenosis (56%). In patients with "new onset" epiphora (4 patients), these factors were: blepharitis (2/4), low tear break-up time (2/4), high tear meniscus (2/4), partial nasolacrimal duct obstruction (2/4), and unctual stenosis (1/4). Three months after surgery, the prevalence of epiphora was 13%, but only 7% appeared after surgery (6 patients). Of those 6 patients, 4 were re-examined: nasolacrimal duct obstruction (2/4), ocular surface problems (3/4), and unctual stenosis (1/4). CONCLUSIONS: Presence of epiphora two weeks after phacoemulsification was infrequent, despite being present in a high proportion of patients before surgery. There was not a noticeable increase in epiphora at three months. The most frequently related factors were mixed disorders of the ocular surface and lacrimal system, without an important incidence of unctual and canalicular stenosis. We consider that our perception about complaints from patients after phacoemulsification may be biased due to those who had previously suffered from epiphora.

Orbital nerve seath myxoma with extraocular muscle involvement: a rare case.

A 66-year-old woman with breast cancer presented with a painless mass in the left orbit. MRI revealed a well-defined intraconal mass in the temporal quadrant of the orbit. Fifteen months later, a further MRI indicated the mass had grown, displacing the left optic nerve and making contact with the lateral rectus muscle, suggesting its possible intramuscular origin. Despite the clinical and radiological characteristics of the lesion and its slow growth, a PET/CT study was developed because of the history of malignant disease. No metabolic activity of the mass or malignant lesion in other locations was observed. After surgical excision, histopathological examination revealed an abundant myxoid matrix with few spindle-shaped cells and no signs of malignancy. The cells were immunopositive for CD34, positive for S-100 protein, and negative for EMA, actin, and CD57. A diagnosis was made of a nerve sheath myxoma. The orbital location of these tumors is extremely rare.