To compare surgical success rates and complications of silicone tube intubation using 0.64-mm- and 0.94-mm-diameter tubes in adult patients with nasolacrimal duct stenosis.

In 62 eyes of 36 patients diagnosed with nasolacrimal duct stenosis who had undergone silicone tube intubation, we surveyed sex, age, symptom duration, time of tube removal, mean follow-up period, and surgical success rate between two groups divided by silicone tube diameter, 0.64 mm and 0.94 mm. By preoperative syringing test and dacryocystography, we examined the surgical results and complications of the two groups.

The silicone tube diameter was 0.64 mm in 43 eyes (69.4%) and 0.94 mm in 19 eyes (30.2%). The surgical success rates in the two groups were 84.1% (36 eyes) and 78.9% (15 eyes), respectively, but the difference was not significant statistically. The surgical success rate was higher in partial stenosis than in complete stenosis but was not different according to silicone tube diameter according to preoperative syringing test and dacryocystography. Silicone tube disconnection and bending were only observed in 0.94-mm-diameter silicone tubes.

In silicone tube intubation for nasolacrimal duct stenosis in adults, silicone tube diameter does not affect operation success. However, silicone tube disconnection and bending were observed only in the 0.94 mm silicone tube.