Canaliculectomy in the treatment of keratitis sicca.

In patients with keratitis sicca (exposure keratopathy) in whom treatment with topical tear solutions and ointments is not effective, closure of the lacrimal puncta is performed with insertion of plugs or by cautery, hypercation, or laser. If punctal occlusion fails with these modalities, surgical excision of the canaliculi is recommended. Canaliculectomy successfully relieved ocular irritation and keratopathy in three patients with keratitis sicca, with no complications (follow-up, 10 to 26 months).