Causes of Tearing in Patients with Chemotherapy: Meibomian Gland Dysfunction versus Lacrimal Drainage Obstruction
Author: Hyungyu Lee
Base Hospital / Institution: Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
ePoster presentation
Abstract ID: 25-267
Purpose
Chemotherapeutic agents are known to cause various ocular toxicities involving the ocular surface, adnexa, and lacrimal system, with tearing being a frequent side effect, and this study aimed to evaluate the contributing factors to tearing in such patients.
Methods
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 34 eyes from 17 patients (mean age 62.4±14.8 years) who underwent chemotherapy for a mean duration of 13.8±7.6 months using agents such as TS-1, Docetaxel, Paclitaxel, and 5-FU, and were evaluated with TBUT, FDDT, syringing, probing, dacryoscintigraphy, and LipiView® meibography.
Results
Tearing began 9.1–10.9 months after chemotherapy initiation, occurring in 52.9% within 3 months and 64.7% within 6 months; mean TBUT was 5.4±2.6 sec, FDDT averaged 1.91±0.87 with 29.4% normal, 29.4% had punctal stenosis or obstruction, 29.4% showed total and 55.9% partial regurgitation, probing revealed 88.2% hard stops, dacryoscintigraphy showed 58.8% pre-sac and 23.5% post-sac obstruction, and LipiView® meiboscores were significantly higher in the lower lid (2.53±0.79) than the upper lid (2.15±0.86, P=0.004).
Conclusion
Obstruction of the lacrimal drainage system is a major cause of tearing in patients undergoing chemotherapy, but meibomian gland dysfunction-related reflex tearing should also be considered due to the high incidence of gland loss observed.
Additional Authors
| First name | Last name | Base Hospital / Institution |
|---|---|---|
| Hwa | Lee | Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea |
| Sehyun | Baek | Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea |
