Evaluating the Endoscopic Jones Primary Dye Test in Lacrimal Dysfunction.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of the endoscopic Jones (eJones) I and II tests in patients presenting with epiphora.

METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted of patients assessed for epiphora in a tertiary oculoplastic unit. All patients underwent rigid nasal endoscopy, dacryocystography (DCG), and dacryoscintigraphy (DSG). Lacrimal drainage status was categorized as nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO), nasolacrimal duct stenosis (NLDS), or functional epiphora based on imaging findings. eJones I and II test outcomes were compared across diagnostic groups.

RESULTS

Thirty-five symptomatic eyes were included. Functional epiphora was identified in 17 eyes, NLDO in 13 eyes, NLDS in one eye, and four eyes demonstrated normal lacrimal systems. All eyes with NLDO or NLDS had negative eJones I results, while all symptomatic eyes with normal imaging findings had positive eJones I results. Eyes with functional epiphora showed mixed eJones I outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

The eJones I test reliably confirmed anatomical obstruction but yielded variable results in cases of functional epiphora, highlighting the multifactorial mechanisms underlying this condition. Further studies are warranted to validate and refine the diagnostic utility of eJones testing.