Objective To investigate the efficacy and feasibility of dacryocystorhinostomy in treatment of chronic dacryocystitis in the elderly patients. Methods A total of 38 patients (38 eyes) with chronic dacryocystitis receiving dacryocystorhinostomy in our department from June 2012 to July 2014 were enrolled in this retrospective analysis. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to their age, that is, the senile group (mean age of 63 years) and the non-senile group (mean age of 44 years) with 19 cases (19 eyes) in each group. All the cases were followed up for 3?18 months, and the clinical outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. Results In the senile group, 15 cases were cured (78.9%), 3 improved (15.8%) and 1 case invalid (5.3%), and the effective rate was 94.7%. While for the non-senile group, 14 cases were cured (73.7%), 3 improved (15.8%) and 2 cases invalid (10.5%), and the effective rate was 89.5%. There was no significant difference in clinical efficacy between the 2 groups (P＞0.05). No serious complication occurred in either group. Conclusion Given sufficient safety assessment before operation, dacryocystorhinostomy is a feasible and effective surgery for chronic dacryocystitis in senile patients.