AIM: To evaluate the effective and complications rate of silicone reverse-intubation in treating chronic dacryocystitis with different extubation time after surgery.

METHODS: From December 2009 to December 2012, 56 patients(60 eyes)with chronic dacryocystitis were studied. Silicone tube was placed for 1.5 months(group A)or more than 3 months(group B), and the follow-up was 6 months after extubation.

RESULTS: All eyes were successfully placed silicone tube. In group A(32 eyes), all lacrimal passage were unobstructed after extubation, after 6 months of postextubation, 21 eyes were cured(66%), 6 eyes were improved(19%), 5 eyes were failed(16%), the overall successful rate was 84%. In group B(28 eyes), 27 eyes of lacrimal passage were unobstructed after extubation, after 6 months of postextubation, 16 eyes were cured(57%), 5 eyes were improved(18%), 7 eyes were failed(25%), the overall successful rate was 75%. The difference between two groups had not statistically significance(P>0.05). Two eyes in group A and 5 eyes in group B had complications with no statistically significance(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: With the time of silicone tube in lacrimal passages before extubation, 1.5 months or more than 3 months, the effective rate were similar, the granulation tissue proliferation is less in the former group.