Dacryocystosclerotherapy

To introduce a less invasive therapeutic method in selected patients with primary nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

Noncomparative interventional case series. Seven patients with primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction who were poor candidates for dacryocystorhinostomy because of underlying medical conditions and two symptomatic patients with previous incomplete dacryocystectomy were included. Ethanolamine oleate 5% was slowly injected through the puncta into the patent portion of the lacrimal drainage apparatus.

After a mean follow-up period of 26 months, the lacrimal pathway was permanently obliterated in 6 cases (66.7%). In two cases, the procedure was repeated successfully and in one case, the patient refused to repeat the procedure after the initial failure.

In selected patients, ethanolamine oleate dacryocystosclerotherapy appears to offer a simple, low-cost, less invasive alternative to dacryocystectomy.