[Transcanalicular endoscopy of the lacrimal pathways]

To study the clinical significance of the method of transcanalicular dacryo-endoscopy, and to determine its place in the system of diagnostic and therapeutic measures for obstruction of lacrimal ducts (dacryostenosis).

Transcanalicular endoscopy was performed in 44 patients aged 24 to 65 years with complaints characteristic of dacryostenosis on the equipment manufactured by 'Machida Endoscope Co., Ltd' (Japan). During endoscopy attention was paid to the presence of adhesions, neoplasms, the character of the lacrimal duct contents and its texture (mucus, pus, 'cheesy' masses), resistance to endoscope advancement, physiologically unnatural coloration of the mucosa, vascular picture of the canaliculi walls, sac and nasal duct.

Transcanalicular studies revealed the following: complete or partial closure of tear puncta in 3 patients (7%), focal stenosis of the tear ducts - in 6 cases (14%), obstruction at the level of ostium of the lacrimal ducts - 10 cases (23%), tear sac - 2 cases (4%) including due to a neoplasm in its wall, and nasal duct - 12 cases (27%). In 25% of cases (in 11 patients), the tearing disorder was multi-level.

Transcanalicular endoscopy opens new possibilities for dacryology in terms of the scope and accuracy of topical diagnostics of the obstruction of lacrimal ducts. The proposed and described methods of application of endoscopic techniques provide a more complete picture of the etiology and pathogenesis of diseases of the lacrimal ducts and can increase the effectiveness of their treatment.