Dacryoadenitis, Dacryocystitis, and Canaliculitis

DacryoadenitisDacryoadenitis may be infectious or non-infectious in etiology (non-specific orbital inflammation of the lacrimal glandLacrimal gland), present in a similar fashion and may be difficult to distinguish from one another in the early phase. DacryocystitisDacryocystitis commonly presents with tearing, redness, swelling and a tender mass over the nasolacrimal crest area and generally has a well-recognized clinical presentation. Intermittent episodes of tearing that may be very severe at times secondary to dacroycystic retention and/or a dacryolithDacryolith may be more difficult to recognize. CanaliculitisCanaliculitis often presents with recurrent discharge despite multiple antibiotic drops. A “pouting punctum” and expression of canaliculithsCanaliculith helps confirm the clinical diagnosis. This chapter will review each entity and provide clinical clues to help diagnose each more readily.