Lacrimal system complications in trachoma.

A clinical study of the lacrimal complications of trachoma was conducted in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. Of the 579 Saudi Arabian patients examined, 446 (77%) showed clinical evidence of trachoma, 62 of whom had severe inactive trachoma. In this last group the following lacrimal complications were observed: dry eye syndrome, punctal phimosis, punctal occlusion, canalicular occlusion, nasolacrimal-duct obstruction, dacryocystitis, dacryocystocele, and dacryocutaneous fistula. Histopathologic examination of seven lacrimal-sac biopsies showed the same cicatrizing changes seen in 14 conjunctival biopsies.