Chronic dacryocystitis is commonly seen in patients requiring a dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). The infection may be primary, or may be secondary to an anatomical abnormality that has led to tear flow stasis. It is possible that many cases of primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction are in fact secondary to unrecognized low-grade dacryocystitis. The intent of this study was to determine what organisms grow in the lacrimal sac of patients requiring DCR. It also investigated whether or not there was a correlation between organisms cultured from the sac and from the conjunctiva and/or the nose. The results of the study indicate that there is not a clinically significant correlation. The level of obstruction does not affect whether similar organisms were cultured from the three sites.