Purpose
To compare the results of three-snip punctoplasty with the placement of three
everting interrupted sutures versus three-snip punctoplasty with mini-Monoka stent
in managing punctual stenosis.
Patients and methods
Fifty adult patients underwent three-snip punctoplasty with three everting
interrupted sutures in one eye (right eye) (group A), and the other eye (left eye)
(group B) underwent three-snip punctopasty with mini-Monoka stent. The sutures
and stent were removed 6 weeks after the surgery. Epiphora, punctal opening, tear
height meniscus, fluorescein and disappearance test results were analyzed and
compared to preoperative information.
Results
Hundred eyes of 50 patients with a median age of 59 years, and females accounted
for 56% of the sample. Anatomical and functional success in the right eye (group A)
was 87.8 and 85.7%, respectively. On the other hand, the left eye (group B)
anatomical and functional success were 89.7 and 87.7%, respectively. Regarding
epiphora, there was a statistically significant difference between presurgical and
postsurgical follow-up examinations in both right and left groups regarding Munk
score. TMH decreased all through the follow-up visits between the two groups, AQ5
almost to half, with no significant difference between both groups.
Conclusion
Both three-snip punctoplasty with everting sutures and three-snip punctoplasty with
mini-Monoka stent are successful techniques in the management of punctal
stenosis.