Early Outcomes of External Dacryocystorhinostomy Done by an Orbit and Oculoplastic Fellow at the Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, India

Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is the gold standard in treatment of patients with acquired naso lacrimal duct obstruction [1,2]. It consists of the marsupialisation of the lacrimal sac into the nasal fossa after creating an osteotomy opposite the common canalicula [2]. It can be done either under general or local anaesthesia, depending on the choice of the surgeon or the general condition of patient. Three procedures are well-known, endoscopic DCR with contact Laser, surgical endoscopic DCR without Laser, and External DCR [3,4]. External DCR is often cited as having a higher success rate in terms of patient comfort and disappearance of epiphora, with overall success rates of about 90 to 100% [1,5-9], compared to endoscopic approach 89% [10]; however, few authors noticed that endoscopic DCR had a significantly higher success rate than external DCR [11] . All These procedures were not yet carried out in Cameroon due to lack of resources and training in orbit and oculoplastics until we went back home after orbit and oculoplasty fellowship at Aravind eye Abstract