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Encyclopedia of Ophthalmology pp 1–2Cite as

Thermal Cautery

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Synonyms

Diathermy; Electrocautery

Definition

There are many surgical applications of thermal cautery, but this discussion is limited to its use in dry eye disease. This is done by occlusion of one or more puncta using heat. The heat of thermal cautery is generated by a direct or alternating current passing through a resistant metal wire electrode (Hutnik and Probst 1998). This heat is applied to the treatment area, causing localized tissue destruction.

Indication

  • Dry eye disease

  • Graft-versus-host syndrome

  • Intolerance of punctual plugs

Contraindication

  • Nasolacrimal duct obstruction

  • Correction with reversible techniques (e.g., punctual plugs) (Ohba et al. 2011)

Techniques and Principles

The lower puncta are typically treated first, with consideration of further treatment of upper puncta if the desired effect has not been fully achieved. Local anesthetic such as 2 % lidocaine can be injected in the surrounding skin and conjunctiva, but this is rarely necessary. A sterile, disposable...

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References

  • Hutnik CM, Probst LE (1998) Argon laser punctal therapy versus thermal cautery for the treatment of aqueous deficiency dry eye syndrome. Can J Ophthalmol 33:365–372

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  • Ohba E, Dogru M, Hosaka E et al (2011) Surgical punctal occlusion with a high heat-energy releasing cautery device for severe dry eye with recurrent punctal plug extrusion. Am J Ophthalmol 151:483–487

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  • Vrabec MP, Elsing SH, Aitken PA (1993) A prospective, randomized comparison of thermal cautery and argon laser for permanent punctal occlusion. Am J Ophthalmol 116:469–471

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  • Yaguchi S, Ogawa Y, Uchino M et al (2012) Surgical management of lacrimal punctal cauterization in chronic GVHD-related dry eye with recurrent punctal plug extrusion. Bone Marrow Transplant 47:1465–1469

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cornea and External Diseases, Department of Ophthalmology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA

    Matthew B. Goren

  2. Northwestern University, 633 Clark St, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA

    Mahsa Sohrab

Authors
  1. Mahsa Sohrab
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  2. Matthew B. Goren
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matthew B. Goren .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Ophthal & Optometry,AKH, Medical University of Wien Dept of Ophthal & Optometry,AKH, Wien, Austria

    Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main Department of Ophthalmology, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Thomas Kohnen

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Sohrab, M., Goren, M.B. (2014). Thermal Cautery. In: Schmidt-Erfurth, U., Kohnen, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Ophthalmology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35951-4_851-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35951-4_851-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-35951-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

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