Lacrimal sac dilatation in balloon dacryocystoplasty

The authors report a case of balloon dacryocystoplasty in a patient who had a dilated lacrimal sac found in conventional surgery. A 52-year-old woman presented with persistent epiphora after a failed balloon dacryocystoplasty. She underwent an external dacryocystorhinostomy. The lacrimal sac was found to be dilated at its lower part, adjacent to the nasolacrimal ductus. Flaps were created more superiorly than usual. The operation was unsuccessful after 3 months. Previous balloon dacryocystoplasty, which is reported to be a harmless procedure, may pose some difficulty in subsequent conventional surgery.