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Surgical punctal occlusion offers high success rate

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Surgical punctal occlusion enjoys a high anatomical success rate, although relief of patient symptoms does not seem to correlate well with occlusion, according to a study here.

Surgeons here prospectively studied permanent surgical occlusion, which they performed in 11 patients (26 puncta) with severe dry eyes recalcitrant to maximal medical therapy. Follow-up ranged from 14 to 34 months. Of the 26 puncta, 24 (92%) remained occluded, including four puncta that showed anatomical reopening.

Only seven of the 11 patients (64%) said they had symptomatic improvement, regardless of objective findings of Schirmer tests, the frequency of lubrication and/or subjective feelings of the patients.

The study is published in the September issue of British Journal of Ophthalmology.