Acute dacryocystitis: changing practice pattern over the last three decades at a tertiary care setup

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Oculoplastics
• Lacrimal Surgery

Background:

• Acute dacryocystitis is a common lacrimal sac infection.
• Management strategies have evolved over time.
• Tertiary care centers observe trends in treatment patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare demographics and clinical features of acute dacryocystitis.
• To analyze changes in management patterns over a decade.
• To evaluate outcomes of different surgical interventions.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 349 patients (363 eyes) from 2013-2023.
• Data collected: demographics, symptoms, management, outcomes.
• Comparison with historical data from the same institute.

Main Results:

• Median age 45 years; 62% female.
• Endoscopic DCR (43%) increasingly used over external DCR (57%).
• 96% success rate for DCR surgery; needle aspiration favored for abscesses.

Conclusions:

• Trend towards endoscopic DCR for acute dacryocystitis management.
• Endoscopic DCR offers quicker resolution and reduced morbidity.
• Needle aspiration preferred for initial lacrimal abscess treatment.