Investigation and endoscopic treatment for functional and anatomical obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct system.

The purpose of this study was to assess the results of endonasal DCR in patients with a functional obstruction of the nasolacrimal system. The study design was a prospective non-randomized interventional case series. A prospective series of 102 consecutive endoscopic DCRs were evaluated with preoperative dacrycytography (DCG) and lacrimal scintillography. Evaluation of the DCG and scintillography allowed the patients to be classified as either having an anatomical or functional obstruction of the nasolacrimal system. The powered endoscopic DCR was performed between January 1999 and December 2001. Patients were followed up for a minimum of 12 months after surgery. In the 70 powered endoscopic DCRs for anatomical obstruction, 68 (97%) have remained asymptomatic with a free flow of fluorescein from the conjunctiva to the nose. In the patients who were classified as having a functional obstruction, 27 of 32 were asymptomatic (84%) with a free flow of fluorescein into the nose. To conclude, powered endoscopic DCR produces excellent results in patients with anatomical obstruction and good results in patients with functional obstruction of the nasolacrimal system.