First-Onset Dacryocystitis: Characterization, Treatment, and Prognosis

INTRODUCTION: To assess the risk of recurrent dacryocystitis after first-onset dacryocystitis and to obtain a demographic profile and treatment characteristic for patients with first-onset dacryocystitis. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on patients who had first-onset dacryocystitis during the years 2010–2013. Patients were followed up for 3 years. The analysis focused on the recurrence of dacryocystitis, demographics, medical treatment, and choice of lacrimal surgery. RESULTS: The inclusion criteria were met by 52 patients. Of these 15 (29%) had one or more recurrence of dacryocystitis, and 18 patients (34.6%) underwent lacrimal surgery. The mean age was 51.6 years (median 55.5, range 0–93). The female-to-male ratio was slightly under 3:1 (73.1%). The most frequent medical treatment was flucloxacillin capsules combined with chloramphenicol eye drops or ointment. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients with first-onset dacryocystitis had no further episodes of dacryocystitis. Some patients experienced recurrent and complicated infections requiring surgery and were thus a significant burden on the healthcare services. Various surgical options were used to clear the nasolacrimal obstruction causing dacryocystitis. Dacryocystorhinostomy was the most common procedure and showed excellent success rate.