The Clinical Outcome of Silicone Tube Intubation According to the Site Resistant to Lacrimal Duct Probing

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical outcomes of silicone tube intubation according to the site of resistance to lacrimal duct probing in complete or partial nasolacrimal duct obstruction patients. METHODS: This study included 102 eyes of 72 patients who were diagnosed with complete or partial nasolacrimal duct obstruction and who underwent silicone tube intubation. According to the site of resistant to nasolacrimal duct probing, eyes were divided into proximal resistance (Group I), distal resistance (Group II) and both side resistance (Group III). The success rate was estimated based on functional (symptom relief) and anatomical (normalization of tear meniscus) success. RESULTS: The success rates in Group I, Group II, and Group III were 53.1%, 78.8%, and 27.0%, respectively, showing that Group II attained the highest success rate (Pearson chi-square test, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In cases of only distal resistance to lacrimal probing without dacryocystography, silicone tube intubation should be performed with expectation of good clinical outcomes, even if complete nasolacrimal obstruction was suspected on syringing.