Semiquantitative cytologic analysis of fluid washed through the lacrimal passage.

A quantitative cytologic analysis of the sediment of 5 ml of saline (0.9%) washed through the lacrimal drainage system of 25 normal and 84 diseased eyes revealed that the cytological picture reflects the conditions in the lacrimal passages and not in the conjunctiva. Neutrophilia was seen to become increasingly frequent with slowing down of the flow through the lacrimal passage, estimated on the basis of dye dilution in the lacrimal river and dye dilution in the fluid washed through the lacrimal drainage system, and also by the spontaneous passing of the dye to the nasopharynx. Neutrophilia was present in no more than 8% of normal eyes, as against 69% of eyes with epiphora, 83% with infectious conjunctivitis, 40% with conjunctivitis sicca, and 50% with chronic simple conjunctivitis. Neither lymphocytosis nor eosinophilia was seen in any normal eyes. Erythrocytes were admixed artificially by washing through and probing. Granules were absent in normal eyes, but present in 5% of the diseased eyes, while hairs were found in 4 and 14%, respectively, and the fungus Alternaria in 4 and 1%.