To evaluate factors affecting the outcome of silicone tube intubation in patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

A retrospective study of the outcome of silicone tube intubation performed from August 2001 to August 2009 in 98 patients (132 eyes) with nasolacrimal duct obstruction was conducted. Improvement was defined as the disappearance of epiphora after silicone tube intubation and success was defined as maintenance of improvement by the time of the final patient follow-up. Recurrence was also defined as appearance of epiphora after silicone tube extubation.

The success rate was 76.5% (101 eyes), failure rate was 8.3% (11 eyes), and recurrence rate was 15.2% (20 eyes). Preoperative canaliculus irrigation test was significantly correlated with symptomatic improvement and recurrence after silicone tube intubation ( p = 0.003 and 0.045, respectively). The mean time that patients experienced recurrence was 43.7 months after silicone tube intubation, according to Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.

Preoperative canaliculus irrigation test is a simple and effective tool to estimate the outcome of silicone tube intubation. This outcome should be considered in the stage of planning treatment in nasolacrimal duct obstruction patients.