Background: To compare the short-term anatomical and functional outcomes of, as well as patient satisfaction with, lacrimal stenting and three-snip punctoplasty for the treatment of punctal stenosis or occlusion. Methods: In this open-label, randomized clinical trial, we included 50 eyes of 30 patients diagnosed with punctal stenosis or occlusion. They were randomly allocated to two groups of 25 eyes each, using central telephone randomization. Group A underwent a lacrimal stenting procedure and was subdivided into two subgroups: Group A1 (13 eyes) received polyvinylpyrrolidone-coated perforated punctal plugs, and Group A2 (12 eyes) received closed intubation using a bicanalicular silicon tube. Group B included 25 eyes that underwent three-snip punctoplasty. All eyes were examined after 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. Postoperative anatomical success assessing the punctum size, functional success using the fluorescein disappearance test, and patient satisfaction based on epiphora scoring were recorded. Results: Both study groups were comparable in terms of sex and age distribution. Compared to Group B, Group A had a significantly larger punctum size at one, three, and 6-month postoperatively (P = 0.009, 0.01, and 0.02, respectively). The difference in FDT results was significant between the two groups at all follow-up visits (P = 0.008, 0.0001, 0.003, and 0.002, at postoperative one week, one-months, three-month, and six-month, respectively). Likewise, patient satisfaction was significantly different between both groups at all follow-up visits (P = 0.007, 0.001, 0.005, and 0.002, at postoperative one week, one-months, three-month, and six-month, respectively). Conclusions: Lacrimal stenting is an effective method for the treatment of punctal stenosis or occlusion. Overall, the FDT results and patient satisfaction outcomes were significantly better. Keywords: punctal occlusion, punctal stenosis, epiphora, lacrimal stenting, closed intubation, bicanalicular silicon tube, perforated punctal plugs, three-snip punctoplasty, 3-snip punctoplasty
Global technology has quickly progressed to provide more accessible business modes of communication. The image of the traditional workplace as a particular place to go to work is being replaced with employees working wherever they can be most efficient and productive, whether at home, on a plane, on the road, or a telework center. The availability of affordable technology has been one of the major contributors to the "any time, any place" telecommuting trend. The purpose of this study is to investigate the possibility of the implementation of teleworking at University Utara Malaysia (UUM), the suitable job selection criteria, the suitable technology needed to support this new mode of business, employee perception and willingness to telecommute, and top management support. To investigate the possibility of a lecturer's job as a telecommuter, we have adopted Jack Nilles Job Task Analysis. For the technology factor, data is collected through literature review. Structured interviews are conducted with top management to determine their willingness to implement this program. And, finally, questionnaires are used to identify the UUM lecturers' willingness to telecommute. This study found that, if the technology factor is available, people are willing to telecommute, a lecturer's job is suitable for telecommuting, and Management is agreeable. Therefore, it is concluded that at UUM, people can enjoy telecommuting benefits of telecommuting, if there is an established policy and regulations that allow them to telecommute.
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