[Retrograde insertion of a spherical headed silicon tube through nasolacrimal duct]

Chronic dacryocystitis or obstruction of nasolacrimal duct is one of the common and refractory eye diseases. The present operations have large destruction to lacrimal passage and unsatisfactory effects. The purpose of this research is to explore a simple and easy surgical method that makes small injuries and good curative effects.

Prob a self-made lumbar puncture needle (No. 7) through the lacrimal drainage system, inject fluid and put a thread into the inferior meatus. Guided by the thread, a special robe is retrogradely pulled through the nasolacrimal duct to dilate the meatus to about 3 mm. Then a silicon tube with a spherical head was inserted in the same may.

37 cases with chronic dacryocystitis or obstruction of nasolacrimal duct were treated by the method and followed up from 6 to 17 months. The result showed that the naso meatus was unobstructed postoperatively. The curative rate was 83.7%, which is better than that of other surgical methods.

This operation is simple and painless for patients; has good curative effects and no severe complications: seldomly injures the normal lacrimal drainage system; can be done repeatedly or replaced by dacryocystorhinostomy if the procedure fails and will become the primarily elected method th treat the patients with chronic dacryocystitis and obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct.