Evaluation of changes in lacrimal canaliculi width depending on temperature and viscosity of eye drops using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in dogs

• Published in: Veterinary ophthalmology 2024-06
• Main Authors: Sung, Hyeonu, Kang, Seonmi, Lee, Songhui, Jang, Yeajin, Kim, Giyeon, Kim, Yujin, Seo, Kangmoon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1463-5216; 1463-5224; 1463-5224
• DOI: 10.1111/vop.13250

To evaluate the changes in the width of the lower lacrimal canaliculi (LC) upon instillation of artificial tears (AT) at different temperatures and viscosities using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Eight eyes of four client-owned adult dogs. Imaging of lower LC was performed under general anesthesia. AT at temperatures of 2°C, 20°C, and 38°C, and a high-viscosity tear gel of 20°C, were topically instilled in 100 μL volumes. SD-OCT tracked LC width changes following each instillation. The average baseline width of the LC was 96.38 ± 30.18 μm. The 2°C AT expanded LC width to 183.50 ± 44.11 μm, returning to baseline in 5.00 ± 1.31 min. The 20°C AT resulted in a width of 155.25 ± 35.79 μm, with a 3.88 ± 1.25 min return. The 38°C AT expanded LC width to 131.75 ± 29.49 μm, with a 2.25 ± 0.89 min return. The high-viscosity tear gel expanded LC width to 208.57 ± 56.31 μm, with remained expanded for 10 or more minutes. In temperature comparisons, the 2°C and 20°C AT significantly expanded the LC width more and had longer return times than the 38°C AT (p