To compare the clinical outcome of silicone tube intubation according to the tie methods.

Eighty-eight eyes of 87 patients who underwent silicone tube intubation were divided into two groups based on the tie method: a silicone silastic sheet group (Group 1, n=59) and a nylon 6-0 suture knot group (Group 2, n=29). The two groups were compared according to their success rates, recurrence rates and complications.

No significant difference was found in the success rate between the two groups (83.0% in Group 1 and 82.7% in Group 2). However, Group 2 showed a significantly higher rate of postoperative complications than Group 1. In Group 1, 5/59 (8.4%) eyes had ocular irritation, 2/59 (3.4%) eyes exhibited tube prolapse, conjunctivitis, corneal erosion, and dacryocystitis and 1/69 (1.6%) eyes had a punctal slit after intubation. In Group 2, 3/29 (10.3%) eyes had ocular irritation, 2/29 (6.9%) eyes exhibited tube prolapse, conjunctivitis, a punctal slit, and dacryocystitis, and 1/29 (3.4%) eyes showed corneal erosion, or a granuloma after intubation. A recurrence of symptomatic tearing was found in 6/59 (10%) eyes in Group 1 and 3/29 (10%) in Group 2.

In silicone tube intubation of incomplete NLD obstruction, the usage of silicone silastic sheets to tie both ends of the silicone tube produced a lower complication rate and a higher success rate than that of the suture knot group. Lower tension on the nasolacrimal passage in the silicone silastic sheet group allows for a significantly lower rate of punctal slit development. Therefore, the method of using silicone silasitic sheets can be considered useful in the treatment of NLD obstruction.