Silicone intubation for partial and total nasolacrimal duct obstruction in adults.

We performed silicone intubation for both partial and total nasolacrimal duct obstructions in adults. Twenty-three cases with partial obstructions and nine patients with total observations were untubated. The final results were good (73.9%), fair (8.7%), and poor (17.4%) in the partial obstruction group; and good (22.2%) and poor (77.8%) in the total obstruction group. Complications were minimal and did not affect the outcome. We recommend silicone intubation for partial nasolacrimal duct obstructions and dacryocystorhinostomy for total obstructions.