Abstract

MARTINEZ SUAREZ, Nereyda G.; AGRAMONTE CENTELLES, Ileana A.  and  AGRAMONTE CENTELLES, Ileana A.. Punctum surgery for the treatment of keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Rev Cubana Oftalmol [online]. 2008, vol.21, n.2, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-3070.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical evaluation of patients with keratoconjuctivitis sicca after a punctum surgery using the lacrimal point plug technique. METHODS: Punctum surgery using the lacrimal point plug technique was performed on 31 patients (62 eyes) who suffered 2nd degree keratoconjuctivitis sicca and went to the ophthal mologist's office in 2006; autologous conjunctiva and labial mucosa were used in 16 patients (32 eyes) and 15 cases (30 eyes) respectively. They were all clinically evaluated one month and three months after surgery. RESULTS: Subjective and objective improvement was observed in 26 patients after the placing of punctual plug, regardless of the tissue. After three months of the operation, 2 patients who carried the labial mucosa plug and 3 patients with the autologous conjunctiva did not improve their condition. No patient got worse and complications did not occur. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative and qualitative improvement was observed in 83,87 % of patients with 2nd degree keratoconjunctivitis sicca, who were performed punctum surgery with the punctual plug technique regardless of the used material.

Keywords : Punctum surgery; punctual plug; keratoconjunctivitis sicca.