Recently, researchers found that epiphora is more common in patients receiving weekly docetaxel, possibly due to the continuous exposure to the drug. They theorize that the drug’s presence in tears might lead to inflammation and damage to the tear ducts. Other potential causes include blockages in tear drainage or excessive tear production due to disruptions in the eye’s surface.

Different chemotherapy regimens are used for breast cancer treatment, and docetaxel-based therapy seems particularly effective for certain cases. However, this type of chemotherapy might lead to a higher occurrence of epiphora. The exact frequency, severity, and causes of epiphora in these cases are not well-established. If tear duct issues caused by chemotherapy become significant, methods to prevent blockages, such as temporary stent placement, might need to be explored.

The study aimed to determine how often tearing occurs in patients undergoing adjuvant docetaxel-based chemotherapy for breast cancer and understand its effects. Additionally, the study aimed to investigate whether blocked tear ducts (lacrimal duct obstruction) could be a potential cause of this tearing.

The researchers enrolled patients with early breast cancer who were prescribed docetaxel-based chemotherapy and had no previous eye-related issues. These patients underwent a series of evaluations. Before and after completing chemotherapy, their tear drainage systems were examined using computed tomographic dacrocystography (CT-DCG), and their eyes were assessed by ophthalmologists. The patients’ eye symptoms were evaluated at the beginning, during, and after the chemotherapy course.

Epiphora is a common occurrence among patients undergoing adjuvant docetaxel-based chemotherapy. Interestingly, this tearing was found to happen at similar rates in patients with or without lacrimal duct obstruction (LDO). The agreement between CT-DCG and ophthalmic examination in detecting LDO was found to be low. While tearing and other eye symptoms had a negative impact on visual activities, they were generally mild and resolved within four months after completing chemotherapy. Importantly, our findings indicate that tearing caused by docetaxel is not linked to lacrimal duct obstruction, suggesting that there’s no need for duct evaluation or stenting in response to these symptoms.