Purpose: Acquired lacrimal canalicular obstruction has a variety of causes. In a small proportion of patients, no cause can be identified. This article describes a cohort of 27 patients with idiopathic acquired lacrimal canalicular obstruction encountered over a 28-year period.

Methods: The diagnostic database of the senior author was analyzed to identify all cases of idiopathic acquired lacrimal canalicular obstruction seen from 1990 to 2017. Demographic, clinical, and treatment details were analyzed. Patients with primary lacrimal punctal stenosis or closure were excluded from the analysis.

Results: The authors encountered 27 patients with idiopathic acquired lacrimal canalicular obstruction (17 female, 63%) aged 34 to 91 years (median: 65 years). The level of canalicular obstruction ranged from 1 to 10 mm from the punctum. Canalicular obstruction involved 1 canaliculus in 4 patients, 2 in 14 (ipsilateral in all except one), 3 in 3, and all 4 in 6. One patient who presented with ipsilateral upper and lower canalicular obstructions developed contralateral upper and lower obstructions several years later, and another patient redeveloped obstructions after initial successful surgical repair. In all cases, there were no features on history or examination to suggest a cause for the canalicular obstruction. Follow up ranged from 1 to 260 months (mean: 39 months). Sixteen patients underwent surgical repair, 11 with a dacryocystorhinostomy and placement of a Lester Jones glass bypass tube, 2 had a canaliculo-dacryocystorhinostomy (anastomosis of the canaliculus to the nose), 2 had dacryocystorhinostomy and trephination of the canalicular obstruction with silicone intubation, and 1 had a dacryocystorhinostomy alone to try and improve drainage through a single patent canaliculus.

Conclusion: Idiopathic acquired lacrimal canalicular obstruction is uncommon and occurs more frequently in older women. The condition may be slowly progressive and can affect one or more canaliculi at any level. Treatment is the same as for any other cause of acquired lacrimal canalicular obstruction.