Abstract: Tear stability after conjunctivochalasis surgery

I'd like to talk to some of these 15 patients to hear exactly how improved their symptoms were, say, a year after surgery. While I know conjunctivochalasis has to be addressed in some patients, I've rarely heard from anyone who had lasting benefit if their primary complaint was ocular surface discomfort. If you're one, let me know!

Evaluation of Tear Stability After Surgery for Conjunctivochalasis.

PURPOSE.:
To evaluate the efficacy of surgical treatment for conjunctivochalasis using the Tear Film Stability Analysis System.

METHODS.:
Fifteen eyes of 15 patients (74.5± 4.8 years; 14 females and 1 male) who had surgical reconstruction of the tear meniscus for conjunctivochalasis underwent evaluation with a symptom questionnaire, Schirmer I test, fluorescein tear film break-up time (FBUT), and break-up time index (BUI) measurement by Tear Film Stability Analysis System examinations that were performed preoperatively and 3 months after the surgery. Changes of these tear parameters were statistically analyzed using the paired t test.

RESULTS.:
After the surgery, the mean FBUT and BUI values significantly improved from 5.7± 3.2 s and 42.8± 18.7, respectively, to 8.4± 2.5 s and 60.7± 16.5, respectively (FBUT, p = 0.0438; BUI, p = 0.0036). The mean Schirmer test value showed no significant changes before and after surgery (p = 0.9064). Fourteen eyes (93.3%) had improvement of ocular symptoms after surgery. One eye (6.7%) with no improvement of ocular symptoms, FBUT, and BUI after surgery appeared to have aqueous tear deficiency.

CONCLUSIONS.: Surgical treatment for conjunctivochalasis was associated with improvement of tear stability and clinical dry eye symptoms.

Optom Vis Sci. 2011 Jun 23. [Epub ahead of print]
Hara S, Kojima T, Ishida R, Goto E, Matsumoto Y, Kaido M, Shimazaki J, Dogru M, Tsubota K.
Source
*MD †MD, PhD Department of Ophthalmology, Social Insurance Chukyo Hospital, Aichi, Japan (SH), Johnson & Johnson Department of Ocular Surface and Visual Optics, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan (TK, YM, MK, MD), Ishida Eye Clinic, Shizuoka, Japan (RI), Department of Ophthalmology, Tsurumi Dental College, Kanagawa, Japan (EG), Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Dental College, Chiba, Japan (JS), and Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan (TK, MK, KT).