Conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy with the frosted jones pyrex tube

To report the results of conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy with primary placement of a frosted Jones Pyrex tube in the treatment of epiphora from upper lacrimal dysfunction.

A retrospective chart review was performed for patients who had undergone conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy with primary placement of a frosted Jones Pyrex tube performed by a single surgeon (R.A.D.). All patients with at least 6 months of follow-up were included in the study. Efficacy was judged by patient report of resolution of tearing and charts were reviewed for complications.

Five conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy procedures were performed with primary placement of a frosted Jones Pyrex tube. Four of the surgeries were performed for a diagnosis of flaccid canaliculi and one for a congenital upper lacrimal obstruction that had been unsuccessfully treated with previous surgery at another institution. Three of the surgeries were performed with an endoscopic approach and 2 were performed with an external approach. Follow-up ranged from 29 to 34 weeks (mean, 31.2 weeks). All patients reported complete resolution of tearing and no complications were noted, including no evidence of tube migration or extrusion.

Primary placement of frosted Jones Pyrex tubes in patients undergoing conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy seems to retain the efficacy of a standard Jones Pyrex tube while reducing the likelihood of tube extrusion, which is the main complication of this surgery.