Epiphora after irradiation of medial eyelid tumors

Thirteen patients had severe epiphora after undergoing radiation therapy for medially located basal cell epitheliomas. All 13 had obstructions of both upper and lower canalicular systems, usually in the lateral one-third. Twelve of the patients became symptom-free after dacryocystorhinostomy with the insertion of a Jones tube. The symptoms of one patient who had a medial obstruction were relieved after a canaliculodacryocystorhinostomy.