To describe the clinical characteristics and management of a group of patients who had infection of the lacrimal gland ductules.

We performed a retrospective chart review of 12 patients who had infection of the lacrimal gland ductules and were managed at Saevit Eye Hospital from June 2010 to May 2012.

The patients' mean age was 31.8 ± 17.7 years, and 7 were male and 5 were female. Common symptoms were a painful, swelling mass with mucous discharge (8 eyes) and conjunctival injection (4 eyes) at the lateral canthal area. All patients underwent surgical intervention by incision and curettage. Eleven patients (91.7%) had typical sulfur granule of actinomyces, and 8 patients (66.7%) had many cilia in the expressed debris from the ductule. All patients had resolution of symptoms after the procedure and showed no recurrence.

Infective lacrimal gland ductulitis should be considered when a painful swelling mass with mucous discharge at the lateral canthal area is present. Surgical intervention by incision and curettage can be attempted preferentially as a minimally-invasive treatment option.