Young men with epiphora: management by an innovative surgical technique (the Safdarjang suture).

A congenital medial canthal anomaly was identified as the cause of epiphora in 18 young adult male patients. This anomaly consists of anomalous anterior displacement of the medial palpebral ligament causing a lack of adequate apposition of the medial end of the lower lid to the globe. The lacrimal punctum does not dip into the lacrimal lake, thereby causing epiphora. An innovative surgical technique is described involving the passage of a suture in the pretarsal plane along the lid margin to correct the deformity.