Endoscopic surgery for lacrimal and orbital disease

Recent interest in the application of endoscopic surgical techniques to the field of ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery has occurred primarily in the areas of lacrimal and orbital disease. Examples of important innovations include endoscopic intranasal laser-assisted dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR), transcanalicular laser-assisted DCR, microendoscopy of the lacrimal drainage system, endoscopic orbital decompression, orbital endoscopy, and computer-assisted surgery. The evolution of these exciting and promising innovations is reviewed with emphasis on the need for continued critical evaluation of these techniques by rigorous clinical research prior to forming specific recommendations for their widespread general use.