Self-regurgitation on pressure over lacrimal sac in cases of primary-acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction: Correlation with physician examination and patients’ perceptions

PURPOSE: To analyze the correlation between patient-reported regurgitation on pressure over lacrimal sac (ROPLAS) with the physician's examination in diagnosing primary-acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (PANDO). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done over 5 months (March–July 2018). All cases diagnosed as PANDO were included in the study. The maneuver of pressing over the lacrimal sac area and noticing the egress of mucoid or clear fluid from the surrounding area by the patient was termed as self-ROPLAS. A specific patient history of performance of this maneuver was compared with a clinician-performed ROPLAS and subsequent objective lacrimal drainage evaluation. The various reasons for performing self-ROPLAS by the patients were documented. RESULTS: A total of 134 patients were included in the study, out of which 59 (44.02%) were males and 75 (55.9%) were females. History of self-ROPLAS was present in 64 (47.8%) of the patients, whereas the physician examination revealed ROPLAS to be positive in 92 (68.6%) of the patients. All patients (100%) with a positive history of self-ROPLAS had nasolacrimal duct obstruction on subsequent examination. The most common reason for performing self-ROPLAS was for emptying the discharge from the medial canthal region to reduce the painless swelling. CONCLUSION: Self-ROPLAS is highly suggestive of an obstructed nasolacrimal duct and can be used as a screening tool by the primary physician to triage the patients toward ophthalmic plastic clinics or consult.