Abstract
Purpose :
To evaluate the improvement in epiphora in patients with acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) following targeted (inferior meatal) endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EndoDCR).
Methods :
A retrospective study of 9 eyes in 8 patients (n=9) who were surgically treated for acquired NLDO using targeted (inferior meatal) EndoDCR. Patients were included in the study if they had at least 3 months of follow-up. Their final visit was used to determine success. Patients were classified as having full success (complete absence of tearing in normal conditions, no recurrence of infection and absence or minimal reflux on lacrimal irrigation), partial success (improved tearing compared with preoperative tearing, but not resolved with partial or complete irrigation), or complete failure (anatomical failure with persistent/recurrent tearing).
Results :
Mean follow-up time for the 9 subjects was 8.8 months (SD 6.6). At least partial success was achieved in 7 of 9 subjects (78%). Full success was found in three eyes, partial success in four eyes, and complete failure in two eyes. There were no incidences of dacryocystitis, punctal erosion from silicone tubing, or canalicular obstruction. One of the complete failure patients had previous EndoDCR. The other complete failure patient underwent septoplasty at the time of the targeted EndoDCR and had a history of recurrent sinus inflammatory disease.
Conclusions :
Targeted (inferior meatal) EndoDCR is a less invasive and efficacious modality in the treatment of acquired NLDO in patients that are suffering from epiphora and may be useful in cases of early diagnosis, where the inferior nasolacrimal duct can still be utilized in the repair.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.