The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Hasner valvulotomy for inferior nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

The study group recruited 31 patients (31 eyes) who underwent Hasner valvulotomy in Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University from October 2016 to January 2019 were analyzed. Among of them, there were 3 males, and 28 females; their ages were the range from 17 to 79 with the average age of (41.8±15.5) years-old. To evaluate efficacy of operation, tearing symptoms, tear meniscus height (TMH) and lacrimal passage irrigation were observed. Paired Sample t test and Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test were conducted to compare TMH, D-value of TMH and lacrimal passage irrigation before and after operation.

90% of affected eyes had no symptoms of tearing, and 10% had reduced symptoms of tearing after operations. In affected eyes, the preoperative TMH was (0.62±0.32) mm; the postoperative TMH was (0.30±0.10) mm with significant statistical differences (t=5.25, P<0.05). There were significant statistical differences between preoperative and postoperative TMH at the dyeing for 0 min and 5 min in the affected eyes(t=2.31, 5.45; P<0.05). However, there were non-significant differences between preoperative and postoperative TMH before dyeing, at dyeing for 0 min and 5 min in the healthy eyes (t=0.40, -0.25, 0.25; P>0.05). In the healthy eyes, the D-value of preoperative TMH between before dyeing and at dyeing for 0 min was (0.17±0.17) mm; that of the preoperative TMH between the dyeing for 0 min and 5 min was (0.12±0.19) mm. In the affected eyes, the D-value of the preoperative TMH between before dyeing and at dyeing for 0 min was (0.02±0.27) mm; that of the preoperative TMH between the dyeing for 0 min and 5 min was (-0.14±0.28) mm. The D-value of preoperative and postoperative TMH between different times in the affected eyes was significant statistical different (t=-3.90, -4.69; P<0.05). The D-value of preoperative and postoperative TMH between different times in the healthy eyes was non-significant statistical different (t=-0.13, -0.61; P>0.05). The lacrimal passage irrigation before operation in affceted eyes was 1 or 2 accouting for 96%; the postoperative lacrimal passage irrigation was 6 accoutng for 88.4% with significant statistical differences (Z=-4.02, P<0.05).

Hasner valvulotomy is effective for patients with inferior nasolacrimal duct obstruction and there was a great improvement of their lacrimal passage irrigations.