Abstract
The results after implantation of Lester Jones canalicular bypass tubes in 326 eyes (310 patients) are reviewed. The bypass tubes were implanted after canalicular obstruction from a variety of causes, of which post-herpetic or post-traumatic obstruction accounted for one-half of all cases.
With up to 23 years' follow-up, replacement of the bypass tube was needed in 142 (44%) patients, the majority after spontaneous loss. The median interval to first replacement may be estimated as about ten years for spontaneous loss and five years for all causes. Despite complications and the need for further surgery in many patients, most patients (91%) were pleased with the functional result of surgery.
The principles, techniques and complications of lacrimal canalicular bypass surgery are presented and the long-term care of bypass prostheses is discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Jones LT : Conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy. Am J Ophthalmol 1965, 59: 773–83.
Vasquez RJ : History of lacrimal surgery. In: Linberg JV (ed) Contemporary Issues in Ophthalmology Vol 5: Lacrimal Surgery. Churchill Livingstone; New York, Edinburgh. 1988.
Henderson PN : A trephining technique for the insertion of Lester Jones tubes. Arch Ophthalmol 1971, 85: 448–50.
Welham RAN : Canalicular obstructions and the Lester Jones tube. What to do when all else fails. Trans Ophthalmol Soc UK 1973, 93: 623–32.
Hurwitz JJ and Howcroft MJ : Use of Lester Jones tubes. A review of 40 cases. Can J Ophthalmol 1981, 16: 176–80.
Doucet TW and Hurwitz JJ : The broken Lester Jones tube. Can J Ophthalmol 1982, 17: 32–4.
Lamping K and Levine MR : Jones' tubes. How good are they? Arch Ophthalmol 1983, 101: 260–1.
Welham RAN and Guthoff R : The Lester-Jones tube: a 15-year follow-up. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 1985, 223: 106–8.
Skov CMB and Mazow ML : Diplopia following Jones tube placement. Ophthalmic Surg 1984, 15: 932–5.
Bartley GB and Gustafson RO : Complications of malpositioned Jones tubes. Am J Ophthalmol 1990, 109: 66–9.
Nik NA, Hurwitz JJ, Sang HC : Mechanism of tear flow after dacryocystorhinostomy and Jones' tube surgery. Arch Ophthalmol 1984, 102: 1643–6.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rose, G., Welham, R. Jones' lacrimal canalicular bypass tubes: Twenty-five years' experience. Eye 5, 13–19 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.1991.3
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.1991.3
This article is cited by
-
Current practice trends for lacrimal gland neurotoxin in the management of epiphora—a BOPSS survey
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology (2022)
-
Can Lester Jones tubes be tolerated for decades?
Eye (2018)
-
Comparison of botulinum toxin-A injection in lacrimal gland and conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy for treatment of epiphora due to proximal lacrimal system obstruction
Eye (2016)