To evaluate the long term effectiveness of double silicone tube intubation in the treatment of acquired nasolacrimal duct (NLD) obstruction.

The authors treated 68 eyes of 40 patients with acquired NLD obstruction. The resolution of preoperative symptoms and signs of NLD obstruction was evaluated 18 months after the operation.

The mean age of patients was 64.7 years and the mean follow-up period was 24.91 months. The symptoms and signs of NLD obstruction were improved in 85.29% of the patients. The partially obstructed group showed a higher success rate (89.29%) than the completely obstructed group (50.0%). A prolapse of silicone tubes to the ocular side was observed in 2 eyes, and 2 eyes had inflammatory signs after the procedure.

Double silicone tube intubation is an effective primary therapy with NLD obstruction, especially for patiensts with simple partially obstructed NLD instead of dacryocystorhinostomy.