Clinicopathologic study of conjunctivochalasis.
OBJECTIVE
To clarify the structural features of conjunctivochalasis histopathologically.


METHODS
A biopsy of redundant conjunctiva from the same anatomic location of 44 +/- 7.5 years (mean +/- SD, 50.87 years), underwent conjunctivoplasty (termed tear meniscus reconstruction).


RESULTS
In all 44 cases, histologic examination disclosed normal conjunctival epithelium and negligible inflammation and lymphocyte infiltration; 39 patients manifested microscopic lymphangiectasia. Elastica van Gieson staining demonstrated elastic fiber fragmentation and sparsely assembled collagen fibers in all 44 cases. There was no discernible difference between specimens from patients with and without complications including tear-deficient dry eye, meibomian gland dysfunction, and clinically observable lymphangiectasia and/or pinguecula.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on our histopathologic findings, we hypothesize that mechanical forces between the lower lid and conjunctiva gradually interfered with lymphatic flow. Chronic, prolonged mechanical obstruction of lymphatic flow may result in lymphatic dilation and eventually give rise to clinical conjunctivochalasis.
Watanabe
Akihide
A
Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
Yokoi
Norihiko
N
Kinoshita
Shigeru
S
Hino
Yoko
Y
Tsuchihashi
Yasunari
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007766:Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008200:Lymphangiectasis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged