Background: Laser canalicular plastic surgery using the erbium-YAG laser is a new method for treating canaliculus stenosis. We compared results of this method with those of conventional surgical operations on canaliculi.
Patients and methods: Between 1996 and 1998 a total of 44 cases of symptomatic canaliculus stenosis were treated by laser. An erbium-YAG laser with a maximum power of 100 mJ was used in conjunction with a sapphire fiber 3 cm long and 325 microns in diameter. Endoscopic diagnosis of the other parts of the lacrimal passage was carried out before and after laser treatment and after tubular intubation. After an average of 12 months the results were assessed via questionnaires and follow-up examinations.
Results: The success rate for reducing epiphora was 67%. Overall 86% of patients reported an improvement in canaliculus communis stenosis.
Conclusions: Laser canalicular plasty as minimally invasive surgical treatment is an excellent surgical method for treating point-focal, noninflammatory canalicular stenosis.