Chronic dacryocystitis
Dacryocystitis is an inflammation of the tear bag. It can be acute, subacute or chronic. Chronic dacryocystitis can be the final stage of an acute or subacute dacryocystitis, it may initially act like an infection and create a nasolacrimal duct obstruction. The most commonly involved micro-organism in this infection is Staphylococcus aureus.
Chronic dacryocystitis treatment is surgical and consists of dacryocystorhinostomy – a type of surgery in which the tear bag is drained into the nasal cavity, operation that can be followed by prosthesis with a silicone probe (the Crawford probe). This probe remains in place about three months, after this period it is removed, thereby re-establishing physiological drainage of tears. Success rate of this procedure is above 80%.
Nasolacrimal duct imperforation (nasolacrimal duct obstruction)
It is the most common congenital anomaly of tear ducts. Usually, the obstruction is located in the nasal meatus and is due to a membrane, which normally opens spontaneously around birth time. Sometimes this can persist into adulthood. If resorption does not occur until the age of one year, the nasolacrimal duct desobstruction is required, under general anesthesia using the mask. Desobstruction success rate is above 90%.
