Laser canalicular plastic surgery

Background. Laser canalicular plastic surgery using the erbium-YAG laser is a new method for treating canaliculus stenosis. We compared results of thi s method with those of conventional surgical operations on canaliculi. Patients and methods. Between 1996 and 1998 a total of 44 cases of symptoma tic canaliculus stenosis were treated by laser. An erbium-YAG laser with a maximum power of 100 mJ was used in conjunction with a sapphire fiber 3 cm long and 325 pm in diameter. Endoscopic diagnosis of the other parts of the lacrimal passage was carried out before and after laser treatment and afte r tubular intubation. After an average of 12 months the results were assess ed via questionnaires and follow-up examinations. Results. The success rate for reducing epiphora was 67%. Overall 86% of pat ients reported an improvement in canaliculus communis stenosis. Conclusions. Laser canalicular plasty as minimally invasive surgical treatm ent is an excellent surgical method for treating point-focal, noninflammato ry canalicular stenosis.