The application of biopolymers in the reconstruction of the posterior lamella of the eyelid and the lacrimal system marks a significant fusion of biomaterial science with clinical advancements. This review assimilates research spanning 2015 to 2023 to provide a detailed examination of the role of biopolymers in reconstructing the posterior lamella of the eyelid and the lacrimal system. It covers the anatomy and pathophysiology of eyelid structures, the challenges of reconstruction, and the nuances of surgical intervention. This article progresses to evaluate the current gold standards, alternative options, and the desirable properties of biopolymers used in these intricate procedures. It underscores the advancements in the field, from decellularized grafts and acellular matrices to innovative natural and synthetic polymers, and explores their applications in lacrimal gland tissue engineering, including the promise of 3D bioprinting technologies. This review highlights the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration between material scientists and clinicians in enhancing surgical outcomes and patient quality of life, emphasizing that such cooperation is pivotal for translating benchtop research into bedside applications. This collaborative effort is vital for restoring aesthetics and functionality for patients afflicted with disfiguring eyelid diseases, ultimately aiming to bridge the gap between innovative materials and their clinical translation.

UNASSIGNED: Congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO) is fairly common in newborns. The main aim of this cross-sectional study is to assess the preferred practice patterns of CNLDO among ophthalmologists in Jordan.
UNASSIGNED: This cross-sectional study was conducted across all ophthalmological practices in Jordan, using convenience sampling. An online questionnaire, designed through Google Forms, was distributed through social media. The survey contained four domains: baseline characteristics of participants and the diagnosis (7 items), medical management (3 items), and surgical management (11 items) of CNLDO. Descriptive statistics were conducted using SPSS (IBM SPSS Corp, SPSS Statistics ver. 26, USA).
UNASSIGNED: Eighty-three physicians responded to the survey, with an average age of 40.6 ± 8.6. More than half of the participants (53.0%, n = 44) were general ophthalmologists. Only 37.3% of our sample (n = 31) regularly evaluated the refraction of a child presenting with epiphora suggestive of CNLDO. Criggler\'s nasolacrimal duct massage was recommended by 62.7% of respondents (n = 52) for up to 12 months. In addition, 72.3% of respondents (n = 60) recommended 12 months as the minimum age for primary probing of CNLDO. Silicon intubation was considered for primary probing starting at 24 months by 31.3% of ophthalmologists (n = 20). Monocanalicular stent was preferred by 42.2% of respondents (n = 27) while 31.3% (n = 20) preferred bicanalicular stent.
UNASSIGNED: There is considerable variability in preferred practice patterns regarding the diagnosis and management of CNLDO in Jordan. Our findings highlight the gaps in optimum practices which need to be addressed for better management.

UNASSIGNED: The aim of the study was to evaluate etiological and demographic characteristics of the adult patients referred to the oculoplastic surgery clinic of the tertiary care center with the complaint of epiphora.
UNASSIGNED: The medical records of the patients who applied to the oculoplastic surgery clinic with a complaint of epiphora between January 2014 and July 2021 were reviewed retrospectively. Etiology of epiphora, age, gender, duration of symptom, and follow-up period were evaluated. According to the etiological factors, nasolacrimal system disorders such as punctal stenosis, canalicular stenosis, canaliculitis, and acquired nasolacrimal system obstruction, respectively; the causes of epiphora were grouped as eyelid abnormalities such as entropion and ectropion, and hypersecretory tear secretion due to causes such as dry eye, allergy, and inflammation. The patients with epiphora over the age of 18 with at least 6 months of follow-up were included in the study. Patients with congenital or tumor-related nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) and epiphora due to trauma-related eyelid or canaliculi injury were not included.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 595 medical fields were evaluated. Epiphora was present in 747 eyes of 595 patients. Of the patients, 221 (37%) were male and 376 (63%) were female. According to etiological evaluation of frequency, 372 (62.5%, 432 eyes) patients with NLDO, 63 (10.5%, 123 eyes) patients with punctal stenosis, 44 (7.3%) patients with ectropion, 38 (6.3%) patients with entropion, 37 (6.2%, 69 eyes) patients hypersecretory causes (dry eye, allergy, inflammation, etc.), 24 (4%) patients had primary canaliculitis, and 17 (2.8%) patients had epiphora due to canalicular occlusion.
UNASSIGNED: Epiphora is an important complaint that may occur due to different etiologies. A detailed examination of the anterior segment, lacrimal system and eyelids, and taking a history are the most important steps in the management of the patient.

Introduction This is a comparative cross-sectional study done to compare the curative outcome of endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) done with and without a silicon stent in patients with chronic dacryocystitis due to nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Methods This study was carried out in central India, involving 60 patients who were diagnosed with chronic dacryocystitis and underwent endonasal DCR (with zero-degree and 45-degree endoscopes from Olympus, with an Olympus camera and monitor) between October 2021 and September 2022. All patients were over the age of 18, with major exclusion criteria of previous DCR and sinonasal disease. All the surgeries were done by the same senior surgeon, in which 30 patients were stented (with a Prison silicone nasolacrimal duct stent) and 30 of them were non-stented. The follow-up duration for these was 12 months after the surgery.  Results The outcome was evaluated at the end of three months, six months, and 12 months for both groups (patients with and without stents) using the Chi-square test. The success rate at the end of six months was 90% with stented patients and 93.3% with non-stented patients (p-value - 0.64); at six months, it was also the same (p-value - 0.64); and at the end of 12 months, it was 80% and 76.6% (p-value - 0.71) for patients with and without a stent, respectively. The final endoscopy at the end of 12 months showed 93.3% of patients who underwent stenting had a patent rhinostomy opening, and 90% of those who were not stented had a patent opening. Conclusions Our observational comparative study showed that patients with chronic dacryocystitis who underwent endonasal DCR with and without stenting had almost similar results. There was no significant difference in the outcome. So, we concluded that generally all the patients should be considered for endonasal DCR without a stent, except in special cases like revision endonasal DCR, lacrimal gland cysts, fistulas, and patients with sinonasal pathology, in whom silicon stents can be preferred.

BACKGROUND: Dry eye disease is a multifactorial chronic disorder of the ocular surface, which leads to symptoms of discomfort and distress. Dry eye disease is a global health concern and is one of the most frequent ocular diseases encountered in an ophthalmology clinic. The estimated prevalence of dry eye disease in the literature ranged from 7.4% to 93.2%. Saudi Arabia\'s population, especially in the eastern province, is at great risk of developing dry eye disease, however, there is hardly any nationwide study that assesses the prevalence of dry eye disease among the general population and its risk factors.
OBJECTIVE: The aim is to estimate the prevalence of dry eye disease and determine its risk factors among the general population of Saudi Arabia.
METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional study conducted on the general population of Saudi Arabia between September 2022 and November 2022. A convenient sampling technique was deployed for participant recruitment, where a self-administered questionnaire was created and dispersed to the general population all over the country with an invitation to participate in the study. Dry eye disease prevalence was assessed using Ocular Surface Disease Index survey. The Chi-square test was used to test for factors associated with the prevalence of dry eye disease, and undiagnosed dry eye disease. Multivariate logistic regression was also used to determine risk factors for dry eye disease.
RESULTS: A total of 1,381 participants were included in this study. The prevalence of dry eye disease among the general population of Saudi Arabia was observed to be (17.5%). Among the participants (11%) had mild dry eye disease, (4.7%) had moderate dry eye disease, and (1.7%) had a severe dry eye disease. Among those observed to have a dry eye disease, (58.09%) were not previously diagnosed. The following factors were observed to be significantly associated with having dry eye disease, being female, having thyroid disease, having systemic lupus erythematosus/rheumatoid arthritis, using antidepressants, using antihistamine/decongestants, using electronic devices for a prolonged time, using contact lenses, having a history of eye surgery, history of conjunctival/eyelid infection, and history corneal abrasions/erosions/ulceration.
CONCLUSIONS:  This study revealed that the prevalence of dry eye disease among the general population of Saudi Arabia is notably lower than what was observed in other local studies and similar to what was found in some global studies. Adjusted binary multivariate logistic regression revealed that the risk factors were only: being female, using antidepressants, using antihistamines/decongestants, and prolonged use of electronic devices.

OBJECTIVE: Dacryoliths of the canalicular pathway are classically attributed to Actinomyces species as the most common organism. However, global shifts toward Streptococcus and Staphylococcus species have been reported. The objective of this article is to update the American Midwest epidemiology of lacrimal system dacryoliths for targeted clinical treatment.
METHODS: A retrospective chart review from January 2015 to 2021 of patients with a history of surgical procedure for lacrimal removal of dacryolith for canaliculitis, canalicular obstruction, dacryocystitis, and nasolacrimal duct obstruction was included. Specimens were sent for histopathological evaluation and microbial culture.
RESULTS: A total of 48 specimens were included. The most common organism isolated for canalicular pathology was Actinomyces spp (23%), followed by Staphylococcus spp (21%) and Streptococcus spp (19%). Histopathological staining accounted for 45% of Actinomyces isolation when culture data inconclusive. In a subgroup analysis of lacrimal sac dacryoliths, the most common organism was Staphylococcus spp (29%). Actinomyces species were not isolated from the lacrimal sac or nasolacrimal duct.
CONCLUSIONS: Actinomyces maintains a microbial predominance in canalicular dacryoliths and requires careful culture and histopathological analysis for its fastidious nature. Lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal duct dacryolith found no isolates of Actinomyces, and the most common organism was Staphylococcus.

Esthetic and functional surgeries in the periocular region fall into the domain of oculoplastic, or plastic and reconstructive surgery and otorhinolaryngology. Oculoplasty is the largest surgical spectrum in ophthalmology including eyelids, orbits and the lacrimal system. Our purpose was to study the frequency of eyelid, lacrimal and orbital (oculoplastic) surgery at the CHU IOTA.
METHODS: Retrospective medical chart review of all the patients who underwent oculoplastic surgery was conducted from October 2015 to September 2016.
RESULTS: A total of 233 patients were included with 52% female and 48% male. Patients were 37 years old on average. In total, the surgery was performed on the eyelids in83 cases (35.6%), the orbits in 113 cases (48.5%) and the lachrymal system in 37 cases (15.9%).Eyelid surgery commonly resulted from eye trauma (43,3%), followed by malpositions (30,2%). Mutilating surgery accounted for 92% of the orbital surgery. External dacryocystorhinostomy was the main lacrimal surgery (42%) followed by canalicular lacerations 25%.
CONCLUSIONS: Oculoplasticsurgeryoccupies an important place in the surgical activities of the ophthalmologic University hospital despite a larger volume for cataractsurgery. Our studydoesn\'t highlight the outcome of the surgery itself but the epidemiology to help decision makers in their eye health policy including the reduction of mutilating surgery and oculoplastic training.
La chirurgie esthétique et fonctionnelle de la région périoculaire est du domaine de l\'oculoplastie, ainsi que de la chirurgie plastique et reconstructive et de l\'otorhinolaryngologie. L\'oculoplastie constitue le plus large éventail chirurgical en ophtalmologie regroupant la paupière, l\'orbite et le système lacrymal.
OBJECTIVE: Etudier la fréquence des procédures chirurgicales orbito-palpébrales et lacrymales (oculoplasties) dans un centre de troisième référence.
UNASSIGNED: Il s\'agissait d\'une étude rétrospective des dossiers de patients opérés pour pathologies oculoplastiques d\'octobre 2015 à septembre 2016.
UNASSIGNED: Au total 233 patients ont été inclus dont 52% de sexe féminin et 48% de sexe masculin avec un âge moyen de 37 ans ; parmi lesquels 83 cas (35,6%) de chirurgie palpébrale, 113 cas (48,5%) de chirurgie orbitaire et 37 cas (15,9%) chirurgie lacrymale.La chirurgie palpébrale était dominée parréparationdesplaies traumatiques (43,3%), suivi des malpositions (30,2%). La chirurgie mutilante constituait 92% de la chirurgie orbitaire. La dacryocystorhinostomie par voie externe était la principale chirurgie lacrymale soit 42%, suivie des lacérations canaliculaires 25%.
CONCLUSIONS: Notre étude ne met pas en exergue le résultat de la chirurgie elle-même, mais l\'épidémiologie du traitement chirurgical afin d\'aider les décideurs dans leur politique de santé oculaire notamment sur la réduction de la chirurgie mutilante et la formation oculoplastique.

To investigate if larger punctum size links to the severity of dry eye disease (DED) and perhaps, punctum size inspection can be adopted to become one of the DED evaluations for practitioners. The records of 200 eyes of 114 patients that had temporary collagen punctum plugs due to severe DED (Level 2 to Level 4) from January 1, 2017, to July 31, 2018, were reviewed for the size of the plugs. Lacrimal punctum size of those eyes was approximated according to the size of vertical canalicular soft collagen plug (from 0.3 to 0.5 mm diameter, Oasis, Lacrimedics, Glendora, CA, USA). The dry eye severity grading from the International Dry Eye WorkShop was used to grade the level of the severity of DED. Those eyes classified as Level 2 and above were considered as severe due to the presentation of moderate-to-diffuse corneal staining and symptomatic. To assess if there is a correlation between punctum size and the severity of DED, the Spearman\'s rank correlation coefficient was calculated. Of the 200 Level 2 and above eyes, 131 (66%) eyes had a large punctum (≥0.5 mm). Punctum size larger than 0.4 mm was 95%. The estimated Spearman\'s ρ was 0.16. This indicates a statistical significant positive correlation (P = 0.02) between larger punctum size and higher level of DED. The larger size of lacrimal punctum may link to the severity of DED. Punctum inspection may be adopted to become one parameter for DED evaluation for practitioners.

BACKGROUND: A 10-year-old castrated male Maltese dog was presented with chronic swelling that had been present for at least 5 years in the medial canthus of the right eye (OD).
OBJECTIVE: To describe the treatment outcome of dacryops with dacryolithiasis.
METHODS: Bilateral patency of the nasolacrimal system was confirmed by flushing of both upper and lower puncta. Ocular ultrasonography revealed a well-defined, oval-shaped, heterogeneous mass with several hyperechoic foci. Dacryocystorhinography revealed no connection between the mass and lacrimal canaliculus. Gentle blunt dissection of the fibrous connective tissue around the cystic mass was performed. The mass was removed, which intraluminally contained multiple calculi.
RESULTS: Histopathologically, the cystic structure was lined by simple cuboidal epithelium and surrounded by smooth muscle actin positive myoepithelial cells consistent with dacryops derived from the lacrimal glandular ductal system. In addition, several spherical basophilic minerals were observed in the lumen, which were identified as dacryoliths.
CONCLUSIONS: Surgical removal of this dacryops with dacryolithiasis was curative without recurrence after four months.

Canaliculitis is defined as infection of the canalicular part of the lacrimal system. Despite usual presenting clinical characteristics such as pouting of the lacrimal punctum, discharge, and redness at the medial canthus area, it is usually misdiagnosed and overlooked. The presence of punctal ulceration and tissue necrosis is an uncommon presentation in these patients. We report a case of a 35-year-old female with a 3-day history of left lower eyelid medial swelling, tenderness, and discharge. She was found to have left lower eyelid diffuse conjunctival injection and swelling involving the lower lacrimal punctum with whitish necrotic tissue. The patient was taken to the minor treatment room and debridement of the necrotic tissue was done and swabs were taken for culture and sensitivity. The punctum was found to be open with deroofing of the proximal canalicular system due to the severe nature of the infection; this was followed by irrigation using moxifloxacin and povidone-iodine. The patient was started on systemic antibiotics, topical antibiotic eye drops, and povidone-iodine sticks to clean the affected area. Few days later, the microbiology results revealed infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the patient was improving gradually until she had complete resolution of the infection.