AIM: To compare the effect of nasolacrimial duct stent placement and dacryocystorhinostomy under nose endoscope for chronic dacryocystitis.

METHODS: Totally 80 cases(80 eyes)with chronic dacryocystitis were randomly divided into two groups. There were 40 cases in group A(nasolacrimial duct stent placement), 40 cases in group B(dacryocystorhinostomy under nose endoscope). The treatment effects were observed after operation. The graft patency of lacrimal passage was examined post operatively.

RESULTS: Patients were followed up for 1 year. The effective rate of group A was 90%, 85% at six month and 1 year after the operation respectively. Effective rate of group B was 97.5%, 100% at six month and 1 year after the operation respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups at six month(P>0.05), while there was statistically significant difference at one year(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The effect of dacryocystorhinostomy under nose endoscope is more reliable than nasolacrimial duct stent placement for chronic dacryocystitis.