Dacryoliths causing intermittent epiphora associated with a patent lacrimal system.

We present two patients with dacryoliths and patent lacrimal drainage with intermittent tearing and without infection. Dacryoliths can be present in the lacrimal sac or lacrimal duct without acute or chronic inflammation. In these cases, we believe dacryolith formation was a causative factor of intermittent epiphora even with a patent drainage system, and we propose that dacryoliths and even fungal colonization formation may be the first event before dacryocystitis and should be considered as a cause of epiphora.