To compare the effects of the lateral tarsal strip procedure alone and the lateral tarsal strip procedure combined with silicone tube intubation in the treatment of functional lacrimal duct obstruction.

The present study investigated 27 eyes of 20 patients underwent lateral tarsal strip procedure (LTS) alone and 29 eyes of 18 patients underwent combined lateral tarsal strip procedure and silicone tube intubation and who were diagnosed with functional lacrimal duct obstruction. The authors retrospectively reviewed patients' medical records for information including age, gender, history, follow-up period, tear meniscus height (TMH), and symptoms.

The average age of the LTS alone group was 60.3 years, and that of the combined groups was 65.9 years. The TMHs in the LTS only and combined operation groups were 0.62 ± 0.23 mm and 0.62 ± 0.19 mm before the operation and 0.43 ± 0.20 mm and 0.26 ± 0.09 mm after the operation, respectively. The postoperative improvement in epiphora was 74.1% after the LTS alone and 86.2% after combined LTS with silicone tube intubation. The postoperative improvement in epiphora and the operative technique of the lateral tarsal strip-canthus sparing or cantholysis were not relevant.

Lateral tarsal strip combined with silicone tube intubation appeared useful in the treatment of epiphora patients without anatomic lacrimal duct obstruction. Determining which operative technique of lateral tarsal strip procedure should be chosen is difficult, and the preoperative syringing and snap back test may be helpful.