Lacrimal Gland Prolapse: Case Report

Abstract

Lacrimal gland prolapse is an important diagnosis to consider in patients with lateral upper eyelid fullness. Prolapse of the lacrimal gland is the descent of the lacrimal gland into the upper eyelid. It can result in blepharoptosis and a bulging “frog-eyed” appearance. This is a case report of lacrimal gland prolapse in a 19-year-old female patient treated by suture repositioning of the glands in an outpatient surgical setting. We report on non-recognition of the prolapse and in the absence of essential surgical correction, in addition to the aesthetic disorders often reported, worsening of functional symptoms such as epiphora with major discomfort. Prolapse in young patients has not been reported in the international literature consulted, E&OE.

1. Introduction and Anatomy

The lacrimal gland is an exocrine gland located above the eyeball, in the anterior part of the upper outer aspect of each orbit. It secretes lacrimal fluid, isotonic to plasma, onto the surface of the eyeball.

The lacrimal gland is normally positioned in the lacrimal fossa of the frontal bone. The levator aponeurosis separates the lacrimal gland into its palpebral and orbital lobes. The larger orbital lobe has excretory ducts that join with the ducts of the palpebral lobe and then empty into the superolateral conjunctiva. Sensory innervation is supplied by the lacrimal nerve which is a branch of the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve. Parasympathetic innervation is contributed to by the facial nerve via the greater and deep petrosal nerve. The lacrimal gland secretes the aqueous part of the precorneal tear film, which is essential to eye health.

The lacrimal gland is secured in its position by interwoven fibrous periosteal connections, including connective tissue posteriorly, the ligament of Soemmerring superiorly, Whitnall’s ligament medially, and the lateral margin of the levator aponeurosis laterally [1,2]. The lacrimal gland arises from the ectoderm of the conjunctiva, interacting with its neighboring orbital bone and soft tissues until it reaches full development at 3–4 years of age (Figure 1a,b). Perhaps genetic differences determine the varying phenotypic manifestation of these structures that are ultimately responsible for the lacrimal gland size and contour [2,3]. Bilateral lacrimal gland prolapse was first discussed in 1895 by a Russian ophthalmologist, S. S. Golovin [4].

As a person ages, the suspensory ligaments of the lacrimal gland can become lax, resulting in prolapse of the lacrimal gland, most commonly the palpebral lobe [2]. The incidence of this prolapse has been reported in up to 15% of patients presenting for blepharoplasty evaluation and is more common in older patients, with a mean age of 78, in 60% of cases [5].

The incidence of lacrimal gland prolapse in a young person has not been documented in the international literature, although it has been a symptom in rare congenital malformations such as blepharophimosis or a few other syndromes [5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13].

2. Case Report

A 19-year-old woman was referred to our department with slow, progressive fullness in the lateral two-thirds of both upper eyelids, epiphora, and aesthetical complaints. The excessive tearing was responsible for extreme discomfort of the patient, never improved by any medical treatment prescribed by her GP or other physicians consulted. This condition was noted as beginning at about age 7, resulting in loss of the palpebral fold and occasional mild erythema. The patient reported increased swelling after crying or a bee sting, with no identifiable relieving or associated factors. Her current appearance appears to have stabilized at the age of 14 (Figure 2a,b). The patient reported no pain or any visual field restriction although this sign is found in the senile population. There was no history of trauma to the orbital area.

Physical examination revealed bilateral redundant, non-pitting, edematous upper eyelid skin with firm, mobile masses in the lateral two-thirds of each upper eyelid, with the right side more prominent than the left. Neither mass could be manually reduced.

A CT scan with contrast of the orbits (Figure 3) shows bilateral symmetrical diffuse hypertrophy of the lacrimal glands (arrowheads in the orange color) measuring approximately 9 mm in thickness.

3. Surgical Technique

Surgical treatment was performed under local anesthesia. A transverse incision along the upper palpebral sulcus was made to expose the palpebral portion of the orbicularis oculi muscle. The redundant palpebral skin was excised. The orbital septum was opened, and mild pressure diuresis was performed to expose the central fat pad (Figure 3a). The prolapsed lacrimal gland, located laterally, was identified by its characteristic pinkish, firm, lobulated structure. The orbital lobe of the lacrimal gland was then fixed to the periosteum of the lacrimal fossa using three sutures with 4–0 monofilament nylon (Figure 4b,c). Hemostasis was ensured. The orbital septum and the orbicular oculi muscle were closed with simple interrupted sutures of 5–0 braided polyglactin. The skin was closed with a running simple 6–0 monofilament polypropylene.

Skin sutures were removed on day 7. The post-operative result remains stable at two years (Figure 5a,b).

4. Discussion

Lacrimal gland prolapse is a condition rarely seen in young people, yet it is perhaps underreported in the literature. This condition can be congenital or acquired and can be associated with various etiologies including recurrent edema (blepharochalasis syndrome), involutional changes, craniofacial deformities, thyroid ophthalmopathy, sarcoidosis, post-trauma, and infectious conditions [5]. Several corrective surgical techniques have been recommended varying from light cautery for mild cases to repositioning by fixation with sutures for moderate to severe cases and to “lacrimoplasty” whereby the prolapsed gland is fixed to predrilled holes in the inner surface of the orbital rim in recurrent cases [5]. Post-operative relapse can occur, especially in patients with blepharochalasis syndrome where frequent swelling loosens the supporting structures of the eyelid [12].

It is crucial to recognize this condition in patient candidates for cosmetic blepharoplasty. The senior AA of this manuscript, with a personal experience of over 5000 cases of blepharoplasty, confirms the incidence reported in the literature of 15% and probably greater than 60% in the adult population > 65 years. Often, in the absence of recognition of the prolapse, surgeons partially/totally wrongly remove the gland, and consequently, we pass from pre-operative epiphora to post-operative dry-eye syndrome, which must be treated with ointments for the rest of the patient’s life to avoid inevitable irritation of the conjunctiva or permanent damage to the cornea.

Differential diagnosis includes blepharochalasis syndrome; dermatochalasis of the upper eyelids associated with muscular laxity and/or periorbital fat herniation; blepharoptosis; proptosis (congenital or acquired); upper eyelid bulging mostly seen in Asians: “steatoblepharon” (

Table 1. Differential diagnosis.

Blepharochalasis syndrome Proptosis         - Congenital: e.g., craniofacial malformations as in Crouzon disease; Apert Syndrome; Kleeblattschädel syndrome         - Acquired: e.g., thyroid ophthalmopathy; sarcoidosis Dermatochalasis of the upper eyelids—laxity of the skin, muscle, and septum and consequent herniation of the periorbital fat Isolated periorbital fat herniation without dermatochalasis Steatoblepharon in Asian eyelids—descent of subcutaneous adipose tissue responsible for bulging of the eyelid

).

About fat herniation, this condition always occurs in the in the internal or median canthal region and never in the lateral portion; a simple compression test of the bulb allows you to see the immobility of the swelling in the outer portion as opposed to the increase in the volume of the other two portions.

In the case of blepharoptosis, regardless of etiopathogenesis (

Table 2. Blepharoptosis: classification.

Lowering of the palpebral fissure unilateral or bilateral/symmetrical or asymmetrical Grade I: The eyelid exceeds the corneal edge up to 1 mm Grade II: The drooping eyelid licks the pupil Grade III: The center of the pupil is exceeded or completely covered by the eyelid

):

(Neurogenic—see MG, MS, myogenic muscular dysfunction as reported in congenital forms, aponeurotic diastasis of the distal muscular aponeurosis in senescence processes and mechanical—post-traumatic), there is a lowering of the palpebral fissure (Table 2 and

Table 3. Blepharoptosis: Etiology.

Congenital Unilateral/bilateral, symmetric or asymmetric, isolated or associated with craniofacial malformation (e.g., blepharophimosis syndrome) Acquired Neurogenic: (MG, MS, myogenic-muscular dysfunction, or other autoimmune diseases) Senile: Aponeurotic diastasis of the distal muscular aponeurosis, age related Mechanical: Post traumatic

). When this depression slightly exceeds the corneal edge up to 1 mm, we consider the ptosis of gr. I; when the drooping licks the pupil, we consider the ptosis of gr. II; and in severe forms, when the center of the pupil is exceeded or completely covered we consider the ptosis of gr. III (Table 2). Manual testing of levator palpebrae muscle function may aid in differential diagnosis [14,15,16,17,18,19,20].

Another anatomical condition observed in Asians is “bulging” of the upper eyelid, with absence of the palpebral fold and more subcutaneous and sub-orbicularis fat, with a pretarsal fat component. The Asian double eyelids show an amount of fat intermediate between Asian single eyelids and Caucasian eyelids. Asian single eyelids show fusion of the orbital septum to the levator aponeurosis below the superior tarsal border, while fusion is above the superior tarsal border in Caucasians. The pre-aponeurotic fat pad descends anteriorly to the tarsal plate in the Asian single eyelid, but not in the Caucasian eyelid. A pretarsal fat pad has been identified in the Asian single eyelids. These considerations are very important to recognize the real prolapse of the lachrymal gland in order to choose adequate treatment.

In our case presentation, the patient did not report major functional problems pre-operatively and correction was merely completed for cosmetic reasons using a suture repositioning technique.

After 24 months, we have not observed any signs of recurrence, and the patient is very satisfied with the results achieved.

5. Conclusions

Prolapse of the lacrimal gland can be optimally corrected surgically during upper blepharoplasty. The prolapsed gland can be returned to its appropriate position via suture suspension of the gland to the orbital rim periosteum within the lacrimal gland fossa. Resection of the prolapsed gland must be avoided to prevent chronic dry eyes secondary to aqueous tear deficiency and loss of ocular lubrication. Repositioning of a prolapsed lacrimal gland is safe and effective. This is a procedure that entails the separation of anatomic structures such as the orbital septum, adipose tissue, and levator complex. Failure to recognize a prolapsed lacrimal gland can result in excision of the gland, likely by mistaking it for herniated periorbital fat, which will have a negative impact on ocular lubrication.