AIMS To determine the efficacy of dacryocystoplasty with balloon dilatation in the treatment of complete and partial obstruction of the lacrimal drainage system. METHODS The procedure was performed on 26 patients with epiphora due to complete (n=16) or partial (n=10) obstruction of the lacrimal drainage system. A flexible tipped guide wire was introduced through the superior canaliculus into ...

BACKGROUND Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is the standard treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Only in rare cases, blockage may be caused by malignant tumors and even more exceptionally by lymphatic neoplasms so that biopsies are not routinely taken for diagnostic purposes. METHODS A computerized retrieval system was used for this retrospective study to identify all patients wi...

A wide array of pathogenic factors has been associated with lacrimal drainage system obstruction including inflammatory conditions originating from the eye, conjunctiva, lacrimal mucosa, nose and paranasal sinuses; trauma; congenital abnormalities; radiotherapy and neoplasms. Inflammatory conditions initially cause lac-rimal mucosal swelling but may lead to fibrotic narrowing or obstruction of ...

PURPOSE To report the finding of nasolacrimal drainage system obstruction associated with radio iodine therapy and to review clinical data and the surgical treatment outcome of this rare complication. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed ophthalmological data of patients with history of thyroid carcinoma that underwent radioactive iodine I-131 therapy and were referred to lacrimal surgery. R...

Observation is a simple and reliable tool with the clinician. The level of tears, position of puncta, lids and eyelashes should be noted. Obstruction of the tear drainage system can be acquired or congenital, it is important to rule out acquired causes of tearing such as corneal, lid or lash abnormalities. Lacrimal obstruction problems can be divided as related to upper (puncta to lacrimal sac)...

Here, we report an extremely rare case of acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction caused by oncocytic carcinoma. A 64-year-old man presented to the hospital complaining of epiphora and left-side nasal obstruction. Ophthalmic and otolaryngology examination revealed a left lacrimal duct obstruction caused by a mass in the left nasal cavity and lacrimal drainage system. The mass was removed and con...

BACKGROUND Treatment of lacrimal sac abscess of the traditional surgical approach may result in complications from cutaneous fistula formation, damage the sac, cause skin scarring and even have the potential for inducing cicatricial ectropion. We designed a new treatment scheme that is expected to achieve internal drainage with the use of lacrimal probe and crawford silicon tube. METHODS A pr...

BACKGROUND Congenital amniontocele also known as congenital dacryocystocele is an uncommon variant of a very common condition (Naso-Lacrimal Duct Obstruction, NLDO) that affects newborn babies. The congenital amniontocele causes obstruction of the lacrimal drainage system creating a cystic swelling of the lacrimal sac. It usually presents at birth or soon after birth, as a bluish swelling, belo...