Adult encysted dacryocystocele: prevalence among patients with epiphora and its management with canaliculo-dacryocystorhinostomy

Purpose The aim of this study was to detect the prevalence of adult encysted dacryocystocele among patients with lacrimal passage obstruction and to evaluate its management by canaliculo-dacryocystorhinostomy (canaliculo-DCR). Patients and methods This is a prospective nonrandomized study that evaluated 381 adult patients who had acquired lacrimal passage obstruction. Of 47 patients who had encysted nonexpressible dacryocystocele, 48 eyes were included in this study. Dacryocystoceles were thoroughly evaluated before performing canaliculo-DCR with bicanalicular silicone intubation to address the two sites of lacrimal passage obstruction. Results Of 47 patients with nonexpressible dacryocystocele, 43 completed the postoperative follow-up period. The mean age of patients was 53.23±14.89 years. Approximately 88.4% of the patients lived in rural areas. Dacryocystoceles were in the right side in 62.8% of the patients. Females represented 83.7% of all patients, and 83.3% of them regularly applied traditional eye cosmetic (kohl) for a period ranging from 5 to 35 years. Canaliculo-DCR yielded 79% (34 out of 43 patients) success rate in the management of adult encysted dacryocystocele. Conclusion Adult acquired encysted nonexpressible dacryocystocele represented 12.6% of cases with lacrimal passage obstruction. Overall, 79% of the patients responded well to canaliculo-DCR procedure.