Self-Securing Monocanalicular Stent for Treatment of Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction

Background: To report the clinical experience and analysis of our results with Ritleng intubation system in patients with congenital and acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Methods: Silicone intubation with the Ritleng lacrimal system was performed in 17 patients (20 eyes) from March 2001 to March 2003 to relieve nasolacrimal duct obstruction following the failure of nasolacrimal duct probing. Results: The obstruction in 14 of the 20 eyes (70%) was congenital, and 6 of the obstructions (30%) were acquired. The mean period of intubation was 5.2 months (range 4 to 6 months). Silicone intubation was successful in 17 eyes (85%), unsuccessful in 2 eyes (10%), and inadequate in a single eye (5%). Complications were easily treated or were minimal and did not affect the outcome significantly, with the exception of 1 infection. Conclusions: Silicone intubation with the Ritleng system is an effective treatment of patients with congenital and acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Self-securing monocanalicular stent is recommended as the procedure of choice after failure of medical therapy and nasolacrimal duct probing.