Diseases of the Lacrimal Organs

Inflammation of the lacrimal gland — dacryoadenitis is, as a rule, bilateral. It begins with sharp pains and swelling of the ex­ternal part of the upper eyelid, in the area of the lacrimal gland, and also lacrimation. The disease is sometimes accompanied by dis­placement of the eye to bottom and inward, diplopia occurs. At drawing of the upper eyelid, a palpebral part of the lacrimal gland, which comes forward in a transitional fold, is well visible. The clini­cal course of the disease is benign, the infiltrate resolves during 10-15 days, but in weakened patients it can result in formation of ab abscess and even phlegmon of the orbit. As a rule, the disease is accompanied by fever.

Etiology. Inflammation of the lacrimal gland is complication of infectious diseases, such as flu, angina, pneumonia. More frequent bilateral acute dacryoadenitis is observed in parotitis. Quite often orchitis joins the disease.

Treatment. Treatment of general disease is conducted (antibio­tics, sulfonamides, analgetics, antihistamins). Physiotherapy is used locally (dry heat, UHF-therapy), washing of conjunctival sac with warm antiseptics and anesthetics, application of ointments with an­tibiotics and sulfonamides. At abscess dissection is performed.

Inflammation of the lacrimal sac — dacryocistitis. When there are inflammatory processes in the mucous of nasolacremal duct, and also different processes in the nose, for example, hyperplasia of mucous tunic, atrophy processes in it and nasolacremal duct, nasal septum deviation, formation of polyps, nasolacremal duct is narrowed or is fully closed. Microflora which gets into the lacrimal sac with a tear propagates and irritates its walls, mucous of which begins to product a secret, a sac is full of mucous, mucous-fester­ing or only festering discharge. Chronic inflammation of the lac­rimal sac develops (dacryocistitis chronica). At pressure on the the lacrimal sac area festering contents is discharged from the lac­rimal punctum. An eye is always moistened. Margins of eyelids, conjunctiva, lacrimal caruncle and half-moon fold are, as a rule, reddening. At the prolonged course of the disease the lacrimal sac stretches (ectasia sacci lacrimalis), near the internal corner of eye a tumour becomes noticeable. In the course of time sac's mucous can atrophy and the track to canalicula can be closed, the locked sac filled with a liquid is formed as a result, that does not become empty at pressure — hydropsy of the lacrimal sac (hidrops sacci lacrimalis).

Quite often inflammation passes outside a sac on the surround­ing tissue, causing its acute inflammation — phlegmon of the lac­rimal sac. Redness and oedema of the skin in the sac area appear, then spreading on eyelids, cheek and a corresponding side of the nose. In a few days a tumour grows soft and pus breaks through outside. A fistula, that appears after opening, is rarely closed, more frequently it remains (fistula sacci lacrimalis).

Inflammation of the lacrimal sac is dangerous for the eye, be­cause in case of the least damage of the corneal epithelium the cor­neal ulcer serpens can develop.

Treatment. If discharge from the sac are insignificant, it is rec­ommended to wash the lacrimal ducts 1-2 times, if they were stopped up by the clot of mucus. When washing does not give an effect, the operation should be performed.

Dacryocystorhinostomy is usually used, that forms connection between the sac and nasal cavity.

Dacryocystitis of newborns. The lower end of the nasolacrimal duct in the antenatal period is closed by a thin membrane which disappears only shortly before birth. If it does not happen dacryo­cystitis occurs. A gentle pressure over the lacrimal sac produces the reflux of purulent discharge from the lower punctum.

Treatment. It is needed once or twice a day to squeeze content from the sac (descending massage) and wash an eye by solution of boric acid, instill 20% solution of sulfacyl natrium or antibiot­ics. If in a week suppuration is not stopped the probing of the lac­rimal ducts should be performed.

Consequently, the disease of the accessory apparatus of the eye can lead to the severe damages of the eyeball, especially the corne­as, therefore they should be cured in time and eliminated.