Calibrated Bowman's lacrimal probe

Dear Sir,

Epiphora due to the nasolacrimal duct and canalicular obstruction is a commonly encountered clinical problem by every ophthalmologist in their day-to-day practice. Assessment of level of lacrimal system blockage using traditional method may lead to erroneous readings without any intraoperative guide for the distance reached by the surgeon. To overcome the difficulty during pediatric therapeutic probing, usage of smart probes has been described.[1] In these kinds of probes on one side, there will be a mark placed at every 10 mm to know the distance reached from the punctum.

To improve the diagnostic as well as therapeutic utility in the cases of pathology related to the lacrimal drainage system, authors have made an effort by permanently engraving the numbers in millimeters scale on either side of the probe using cutting edge laser technology [Fig. 1a]. The probe on one side has a measuring scale at every 2 mm (from 2 to 20 mm) [Fig. 1b] and the other end has a measuring scale at every 5 mm (from 5 to 20 mm) [Fig. 1c].

Figure 1.

(a) Calibrated Bowman's lacrimal probe. (b) On one end of the probe the number are engraved corresponding to a millimeters scale from 2 to 20 mm. (c) Similarly, on the other side of the probe the scale measures distance at every 5 mm (from 5 to 20 mm)

With the help of routine probes, the procedures are time-consuming and may give a false reading about the site of obstruction. But using this calibrated probe, the exact site of obstruction from the lacrimal punctum can be measured with the probe in situ and accurately as small as 1 mm distance. Similarly, in cases of canalicular obstruction, the level can be ascertained with the probe before the canalicular trephination. To conclude, using calibrated Bowman probe, the level of obstruction within the lacrimal system can be made out more accurately with minimal wastage of crucial time.

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Conflicts of interest

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