AOR
Archives of Ophthalmological Research

The Archives of Ophthalmological Research aims to publish issues related to publish articles of the highest scientific and clinical value at an international level, and accepts articles on these topics. The target audience of the journal included specialists and physicians working in ophthalmology, and other health professionals interested in these fields.

eISSN: 3023-6479
Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International License.
EndNote Style

Online Manuscript System

Index
Original Article
Assessment of quality of life in patients with epiphora: a cross-sectional study using a structured clinical performa
Abstract
Aims: This study aims to evaluate the impact of Epiphora (watery eyes) on various daily life activities and to assess the overall quality of life in adult patients suffering from epiphora.
Methods: A cross-sectional study analysed the quality of life of 300 patients who visited the ophthalmic department of a tertiary-level hospital in North India. Patients presented with complaints of epiphora at the Eye OPD of Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in Aligarh between January 2025 and May 2025. A self-designed structured performa was used to collect demographic details (age, gender), patient’s history, and other clinical features of epiphora (continuous or occasional tearing).
Results: This study highlights that the average age of the participants is 40.80, with a standard deviation of 16.70. Most of the participants were women, with 208 (69.33%) being female compared to 92 (30.66%) being male. The majority of patients reported frequent eye wiping (5 to 10 times) (39.66%), blurred vision (65%), epiphora, and variations in the evening (46.66%), morning (37.33%), and during specific activities (49.33%). Activities such as reading (9.33%), driving (22.66%), and using digital devices (9.66%) are commonly restricted by this condition. Results were highly significant with a p-value <0.05.
Conclusion: This study suggested that in many individuals, epiphora affects nearly every part of their daily activities. Constant wiping creates difficulties in performing various tasks, such as driving and, for females, completing household chores. It also leads to challenging social interactions, feelings of embarrassment, self-consciousness, and frustration.

Keywords : Blur vision, conjunctivitis, dry eye syndrome, epiphora, ocular surgery, tearing

Download Article


1. Nemet AY. The etiology of epiphora: a multifactorial issue. Semin Ophthalmol. 2016;31(3):275-279. doi:10.3109/08820538.2014.962163
2. Koh S, Ochi S, Inoue Y. Lacrimal drainage function after cheese wiring of lacrimal passage intubation. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2020; 258(5):1087-1093. doi:10.1007/s00417-020-04612-z
3. Pflugfelder SC, Stern ME. Biological functions of tear film. Exp Eye Res. 2020;197:108115. doi:10.1016/j.exer.2020.108115
4. Akaishi PS, Schellini SA. Diagnosing and treating epiphora in the 21st century. Arq Bras Oftalmol. 2024;87(5):e2024-0099. doi:10.5935/0004-2749.2024-0099
5. Warees A, Saeed A, Hasan W, Ahsan S, Faraz M. Precision gene therapy: a transformative approach to treat age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). Ophthalmol Res Int J. 2025;20(4):1-15. doi:10.9734/or/2025/v20i4461
6. Avdagic E, Phelps PO. Nasolacrimal duct obstruction as an important cause of epiphora. Dis Month. 2020;66(10):101043. doi:10.1016/j.disamonth.2020.101043
7. Azari AA, Arabi A. Conjunctivitis: a systematic review. J Ophthalmic Vis Res. 2020;15(3):372-395. doi:10.18502/jovr.v15i3.7456
8. Ting DSJ, Ho CS, Deshmukh R, Said DG, Dua HS. Infectious keratitis: an update on epidemiology, causative microorganisms, risk factors, and antimicrobial resistance. Eye (London, England). 2021;35(4):1084-1101. doi:10.1038/s41433-020-01339-3
9. Lee JM, Baek JS. Etiology of epiphora. Korean J Ophthalmol. 2021;35(5): 349-354. doi:10.3341/kjo.2021.0069
10. Woog JJ. The incidence of symptomatic acquired lacrimal outflow obstruction among residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, 1976-2000 (an American Ophthalmological Society thesis). Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc. 2007;105:649-666.
11. Al-Mohtaseb Z, Schachter S, Shen Lee B, Garlich J, Trattler W. The relationship between dry eye disease and digital screen use. Clin Ophthalmol. 2021;15:3811-3820. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S321591
12. Narendra K, Singh SK, Deepa CK, et al. Exploring new frontiers in dry eye disease: treatments, mechanisms, and diagnostic innovations a comprehensive review. Aspect Mol Med. 2025;5:100090. doi:10.1016/j.amolm.2025.100090
13. Psychosocial distress and psychological adjustment in patients with ocular loss: a framework analysis | BMC Oral Health | Full Text. Accessed September 18, 2025. https://bmcoralhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12903-022-02597-1
14. Alam M, Abbas K, Dar GA, Nosaiba, Ahmed K. Nootropic property of punica grantum extract as BDNF4 stimulant for treatment of major depressive disorder. Int Neuropsychiatr Dis J. 2024;21(2):24-35. doi:10.9734/indj/2024/v21i2424
15. Guo Y, Wu D, Jin Y, Tian Y, Li X. Prevalence and risk factors for depression and anxiety in patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Front Psychiatry. 2023;14:1174404. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1174404
16. Warees A, Saeed A, Hasan W, Ahsan S, Faraz M. Precision gene therapy: a transformative approach to treat age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). Ophthalmol Res Int J. 2025;20(4):1-15. doi:10.9734/or/2025/v20i4461
17. Isorauhimbine and Vinburnine as Novel 5-HT2A Receptor Antagonists from Rauwolfia serpentina for the Treatment of Insomnia: an In Silico Investigation. Accessed September 18, 2025. https://www.chronobiology inmedicine.org/journal/view.php?number=190
18. Liu Z, Sun S, Sun X, Wu Y, Huang Y. Differences of anxiety and depression in dry eye disease patients according to age groups. Front Psychiatry. 2022;13:930714. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.930714
19. Schulz CB, Rainsbury P, Hoffman JJ, et al. The watery eye quality of life (WEQOL) questionnaire: a patient-reported outcome measure for surgically amenable epiphora. Eye (Lond). 2022;36(7):1468-1475. doi:10. 1038/s41433-021-01674-z
20. Jafari A, Simmonds JC, Mitchell MB, et al. A new patient-reported outcomes measure for surgically treated epiphora: Tearing Assessment and Rating Scale-12 (TEARS-12). Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2024;38(4):211-217. doi:10.1177/19458924241241871
21. Pimentel de Figueiredo AR, Almeida Dantas R, Piffaretti JM, Haefliger IO. Treatment of epiphora in connection with endolacrimal surgery using trephines: new and overview data. Klin Monbl Augenheilkd. 2013;230(4):385-389. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1328380
22. Schargus M, Geerling G. Diagnosis and treatment of the watering eye. HNO. 2017;65(1):69-84. doi:10.1007/s00106-016-0286-8
23. Bohman E, Wyon M, Lundström M, Dafgård Kopp E. A comparison between patients with epiphora and cataract of the activity limitations they experience in daily life due to their visual disability. Acta Ophthalmol. 2018;96(1):77-80. doi:10.1111/aos.13447
24. Shin JH, Kim YD, Woo KI; Korean Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (KSOPRS). Impact of epiphora on vision-related quality of life. BMC Ophthalmol. 2015;15:6. doi:10.1186/1471-2415-15-6
25. Schulz CB, Rainsbury P, Hoffman JJ, et al. The watery eye quality of life (WEQOL) questionnaire: a patient-reported outcome measure for surgically amenable epiphora. Eye (Lond). 2022;36(7):1468-1475. doi:10. 1038/s41433-021-01674-z
26. Usmani E, Shapira Y, Selva D. Functional epiphora: an under-reported entity. Int Ophthalmol. 2023;43(8):2687-2693. doi:10.1007/s10792-023-02668-4
27. Koh S, Inoue Y, Ochi S, Takai Y, Maeda N, Nishida K. Quality of vision in eyes with epiphora undergoing lacrimal passage intubation. Am J Ophthalmol. 2017;181:71-78. doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2017.06.022 </ol> <p>
Article available in :
Volume 2, Issue 4, 2025
Page : 63-68
https://doi.org/10.51271/AOR-0039
Article Information
Received : 09 Ağu 2025
Accepted : 22 Eki 2025
Published : 30 Eki 2025
Corresponding Author :

Mudassir Alam: Indian Biological Sciences and Research Institute, IBRI

[email protected]
Citation : Warees A, Faraz M, Alam M, Kausar S. Assessment of quality of life in patients with epiphora: a cross-sectional study using a structured clinical performa. Arch Ophthalmol Res. 2025;2(4):63-68.

Read: 57
Download : 33
Cited: 0
_Footer