a prospective non-randomized study conducted upon 24 patients with severe lower punctual stenosis (grade 0 according to Kashkouli scale) attending at Menoufia University hospitals. The upper punctum and canaliculus were patent. All patients were complaining of epiphora and had a thorough ophthalmological examination including dye disappearance test, and slit-lamp examination. Pigtail probe was used from patent upper punctum to detect the lower stenosed punctum which was opened with a scalpel. Syringing of the lower lacrimal passages was done to confirm its patency and self retaining silicone bicanalicular stent was inserted. The silicone tube was left in place for 6 months before it was removed. Patients were then followed up for 1 year after the surgery.

This is a prospective non-randomized study which was conducted upon 24 patients with total lower punctual occlusion attending at Menoufia University hospitals in the period from January 2014 to January 2018. Ethics approval from the institutional review board was obtained, and a written informed consent was taken from every patient according to the Declaration of Helsinki.

All patients of the study were complaining of epiphora and had a thorough ophthalmological examination including dye disappearance test, and slit-lamp examination. The dye disappearance test was performed with a drop of 2% fluorescein sodium and assessment after 5 minutes of the remaining dye in the tear meniscus was done and results were graded.

Surgical procedure

All operations were done under general anesthesia and were performed by two authors (SSM, KES). The authors performed lacrimal probing and syringing test through the normal punctum to exclude concomitant occluded common canaliculus or nasolacrimal duct. The pigtail probe was passed through the canalicular system from the normal punctum to the occluded aspect. When the tip of the pigtail probe was positioned near the occluded punctal area, the surgeon pushed the area to be tented with the pigtail probe. After they advanced the pigtail probe back and forth several times until they could locate the correct position of the occluded punctum, the authors incised the tented area with a scalpel No. 11 to make a new punctal opening.

To ensure punctal and canalicular patency, syringing was repeated through the perforated punctum. To prevent re-occlusion of punctal opening, a self retaining bicanalicular tube (FCI®; Paris, France) was inserted through the normal and perforated puncti.

The silicone tube was left in place for 6 months before it was removed. Patients were then followed up for 1 year after the surgery (6 months after removal of the tube). During the follow-up period, the authors investigated the improvement of subjective epiphora symptoms based on Munk score, fluorescein disappearance test, maintenance of newly formed punctal opening, and incidence of complications.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. severe lowee punctual stenosis
2. patent upper punctum and canaliculus as well as patent nasolacrimal duct
3. normal lower eyelid margin position -

Exclusion Criteria:

1. patients with punctal stenosis with grades more than 0 according to Kashkouli scale
2. patients with previous eyelid surgery
3. a lump overlying or involving the punctum or other part of the tear drainage system.