THE TREATMENT OF EPIPHORA WITH BALLOON DACRYOCYSTOPLASTY

We examine a new treatment for epiphora: balloon dilatation of the nas olacrimal duct, or dacryocystoplasty. The procedure, which was perform ed as an out-patient procedure under local anaesthetic, was carried ou t on 20 patients with epiphora, 17 due to anatomical and 3 due to func tional obstruction. There was an overall success rate of 60%, with com plete relief of symptoms in 4 patients and a symptomatic improvement i n another 8 (follow-up 2-9 months, mean 4.2 months). All patients tole rated the procedure well with minimal per-operative and postoperative discomfort. A higher success rate was seen in those patients with eith er a low anatomical or a functional obstruction. The procedure can be easily repeated and, if unsuccessful, still allows a dacryocystorhinos tomy to be performed at a later date.