title: Transcanalicular diode laser assisted dacryocystorhinostomy in primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction: 2-year follow up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the success rate of 980 nm transcanalicular diode laser-assisted dacryocystorhinostomy (TDL-DCR) in patients with primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (PANDO) and to consider the time and the reasons of failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hundred and thirty eyes of 125 patients who underwent of TDL-DCR for the treatment of PANDO are included in this retrospective, noncomparative, nonrandomized, interventional study. The mean follow-up time was 24.29 months (range 8-34 months). Functional success was described as disappearance of epiphora and presence of a patent ostium on lacrimal irrigation. Anatomical success was described as a patent ostium to irrigation but continuing epiphora. Patients with persistent epiphora and a closed ostium were classified as a surgical failure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At third month follow up, 85.4% of cases had complete resolution of their symptoms. The functional success rate decreased to 67.7% at 6 months, to 63.3% at first year, and to 60.3% at second year, while the patency of the lacrimal drainage system was restored in 93.1%, 74.6%, 69.5%, and 68.2% of the cases, respectively. The average total amount of delivered laser energy was 1322.7 J. No correlation could be found between the age of the patient, delivered laser energy, and the surgical success (p = 0.38, p = 0.62).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transcanalicular diode laser-assisted DCR is a fast and relatively easy alternative surgical method, which avoids a facial skin scar, to treat PANDO. The functional success rate is higher in the first months but decreases to low 60 %'s at the end of first year and remains the same at the second-year follow up.
authors.affiliation: Departments of *Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and †Ophthalmology, Istanbul Beyoglu Eye Research and Training Hospital, Galata; and ‡ Department of Ophthalmology, Medeniyet University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Pelin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaynak
authors.forename: Can
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ozturker
authors.forename: Serpil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yazgan
authors.forename: Gamze Ozturk
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Karabulut
authors.forename: Serpil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akar
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Demirok
authors.forename: Omer F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009301:Nasolacrimal Duct / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult