Patient dissatisfaction after functionally successful conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy with Jones tube

Conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy with a Jones tube is an accepted procedure for the treatment of epiphora resulting from obstructed canaliculi. Because of our clinical impression that a high rate of functional success after surgery is associated with a lower rate of patient satisfaction, we analyzed the results and patient satisfaction of 121 patients who underwent conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy with Jones tubes. The surgical success rate was 92.6% (112 of 121 patients). However, 13 of 112 patients (11.6%) whose operation was functionally successful were not satisfied and 36 of 112 patients (32%) reported having more complications than expected. The highest rate of dissatisfied patients occurred in patients 70 years of age or older (ten of 46 patients, 22%) and in patients 19 years of age or younger (one of four patients). Thus, the indication for conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy in these age groups should be limited to exceptionally remarkable symptomatic cases. The drawbacks of the procedure should be explained to all candidates to minimize dissatisfaction resulting from unrealistic expectations.