DACRYOCYSTOPLASTY - TREATMENT OF EPIPHORA BY MEANS OF BALLOON DILATION OF THE OBSTRUCTED NASOLACRIMAL DUCT SYSTEM

PURPOSE: To evaluate treatment of epiphora due to acquired stenotic ob struction of the nasolacrimal duct system with dacryocystoplasty (DCP) , in which balloon dilation is used to alleviate the obstruction. MATE RIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients (21 eyes) with epiphora due to obst ructing lesions at the saccular or subsaccular level were treated with DCP. The authors used a catheter with a balloon diameter of only 3 mm to prevent damage to the nasolacrimal duct system and a non-traumatiz ing guide wire. Stent placement was not considered necessary. Follow-u p ranged from 14 to 70 weeks. RESULTS: Cannulation was not possible in one case of complete obstruction. DCP was successfully performed in t he other 20 cases. In 18 of these cases (90%), results comparable with those of dacryocystorhinostomy were achieved. No side effects were ob served. CONCLUSION: DCP is potentially the treatment of choice for epi phora due to acquired stenotic obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct sy stem.