Evaluation of anatomical and functional success in canalicular laceration repair using anterior segment optical coherence tomography and dacryoscintigraphy

•In this study, although patients did not exhibit obvious epiphora following canalicular laceration repair, we observed prolonged or reduced drainage on dacryoscintigraphy and increased tear meniscus measurements on anterior segment OCT compared to the unaffected eye.•Prolonged drainage was observed more frequently in patients who required additional surgery.•The intervals between the accident and the surgery, as well as the timing of tube removal, did not affect the anterior segment OCT values. To assess the anatomical and functional outcomes in patients who underwent surgery for canalicular laceration and did not experience significant epiphora, and to compare these outcomes with contralateral uninjured eye. Dacryoscintigraphy, anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT), MUNK scores, and a satisfaction questionnaire were administered to 24 patients who had canalicular laceration repair without significant epiphora and had a minimum of 6 months of follow-up. Tear meniscus height (TMH), depth (TMD), and area (TMA) were measured using anterior segment OCT and compared with the values in the uninjured eye. Sixteen patients (67 %) had lower, 7 (29 %) had upper canaliculus, and one (4 %) had lacerations in both canaliculi. Five patients (20.83 %) had concomitant orbital fractures, and three patients (12.5 %) underwent additional repair for corneoscleral laceration. Bicanalicular silicone tube intubation was performed in one patient, while Mini-Monoka stent intubation was used for all other patients. The mean follow-up period was 41 ± 22.3 months, and the mean interval between trauma and surgery was 30.2 ± 29 h. The mean duration until tube removal was 3 ± 2.54 months. The MUNK score was 1 in eight patients (33 %) and 0 in sixteen patients (67 %). Canalicular lacerations occurred due to home accidents in 8 patients, work accidents in 4, assaults in 5, and traffic accidents in 7. Dacryoscintigraphy showed drainage of tracer into the nasal cavity in dynamic imaging for 12 patients. Five patients had retention in the sac, four had prolonged and reduced drainage, one had reduced drainage, and two showed no drainage in the first and second hour images. In the operated eye, the mean tear meniscus height (TMH) was 279.6 µm, depth (TMD) was 215 µm, and area (TMA) was 28.9 µm². In the healthy eye, the mean TMH was 221.5 µm, TMD was 152.5 µm, and TMA was 15.3 µm². The anterior segment OCT values for the affected eye were statistically significantly higher than t