[Possibilities of using the method of crystallography of tears in pathologies of the lacrimal apparatus].

A total of 178 patients with pathologies in the lacrimal apparatus (including 81 patients with dacryocystitis, 51 patients with imperforation of the lacrimal canals' opening and 46 patients with dacryostenosis) were investigated. Crystallographic examination (CGE) of the lacrimal fluid was made for both eyes before and after surgery. 32 virtually healthy persons made up the control group. Normal types were defined and an operational scheme, which ensured the detection of 4 main types of crystals typical of the discussed pathologies, was elaborated. CGE was found to enable a reliable detection of relapses' threat, which can be a criterion in choosing the time for removing the intubation tube after canaliculardacryocystorhinostomy (CDCT) and an extra source of information in specifying a stage of dacryostenosis. CGE provides for determining indirectly the presence of an allergic or inflammatory component in the disease course. Finally, CGE is a simple and sufficiently informative method, which can turn into an additional tool in the diagnosis, differential diagnostics and evaluation of the efficiency of conducted therapy and in forecasting a clinical disease course in the lacrimal apparatus.