ABSTRACT

To evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic laser dacryocystorhinostomy for nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

Thirty-two eyes of 30 patients who underwent endoscopic laser dacryocystorhinostomy for nasolacrimal duct obstruction were retrospectively reviewed. All surgeries were performed using a multidiode laser with a transcanalicular approach. A bicanalicular silicone tube entubation was performed at the end of the surgery. Bicanalicular silicone tubes were extracted 8 weeks after the surgery. The success criteria were defined by the absence of epiphora and the determination of nasolacrimal duct patency by lacrimal system syringing.

The mean age of 18 female and 12 male patients was 39.4 years (range 18-70 years). The mean follow up was 8.2 months (range 4-12 months). The success rate was 87.5% (28 eyes). After treatment, 4 patients (12.5%) had granulomas in the rhinostomy area at follow up.

Transcanalicular multidiode endoscopic laser dacryocystorhinostomy seems to be an effective surgical procedure for the treatment of lacrimal drainage system obstruction.

Keywords: Nasolacrimal duct, multidiode laser, dacryocystorinostomy