Purpose To determine the rate of symptomatic improvement and evaluate the efficacy of silicone tube intubation in patients presumed functional nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
Methods This retrospective cohort study of patients with unilateral or bilateral symptomatic epiphora and patent nasolacrimal ducts, with at least eight-month follow-up after silicone tube intubation. A questionnaire survey was performed by one of the authors (Tong NvXia) at the end of the follow-up period of silicone tube intubation to ascertain functional results. The degree of watering, patients’ satisfaction and symptomatic improvement were carefully evaluated.
Results Thirty-seven eyes of 20 adult patients underwent silicone tube intubation for functional epiphora. Mean follow-up time was 14.8±4.1 months. Of the 33 (89.2%) that felt that the procedure was an overall success with symptoms improved significant, 2 (5.4%) were relieved of indoor epiphora, 1 (2.7%) had minimal epiphora outdoors but only with wind or cold, and 1 (2.7%) remained tearing indoors and outdoors. 18 patients (90%) felt satisfaction with this procedure.
Conclusion Of patients with functional block, silicone intubation produces a marked symptomatic outcome and provides good success rate for relief of epiphora. This study provides important clinical information that silicone tube intubation is an effective procedure for functional lacrimal system obstruction.