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Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Transcanalicular Diode Laser-assisted Dacryocystorhinostomy for the Treatment of Primary Acquired Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction
Published on: October 13, 2017
Surgical procedures and outcomes in patients with tear drainage system disorders associated with the anticancer agent
Tsugihisa Sasaki1,2,3, Tsutomu Sounou4, Tomomi Higashide4
1Sasaki Eye Clinic, 5-2-6 Mikuni-higashi, Mikuni, Sakai, 913-0016, Japan. sasatsug@gmail.com.
Purpose:
S-1 is a first-line oral anti-cancer drug widely used in Japan. This study evaluated surgical outcomes for S-1-associated tear drainage system disorders (S-1/TDSD) and explored strategies to improve outcomes.
Study Design:
Multicenter, retrospective observational study.
Methods:
Fifty-one patients (89 sides; 31 men and 20 women; mean age ± SD, 68.7 ± 10.7 years; range 49─85 years) with S-1/TDSD were included. Surgical procedures performed were: three-snip procedure; exploratory horizontal part canaliculotomy; probing with tube placement; and conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy with Jones tube insertion.
Results:
The cases were classified as: punctal occlusion (Group a, 34 sides), both stenosed canaliculi (Group b, 2 sides), patent canaliculus and mono-canalicular obstruction (CO) (Group c, 9 sides), one soft or tightCO and contralateral softCO (Group d, 13 sides), tightCOs in both canaliculi (Group e, 27 sides), and common CO (Group f, 4 sides). The three-snip procedure for Group a was successful in 32 of 34 sides (94.1%). Probing with intubation for Group b was successful in all cases (2/2). Conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy for Group e was successful in 15 of 20 sides (75.0%) and dacryoendoscopic canaliculo-incision for Group e was successful in 4 of 4 sides (100%). However, exploratory horizontal part canaliculotomy and probing for Groups c and d were successful in 14%─42% of cases.
Conclusion:
The three-snip procedure for punctal occlusions showed favorable outcomes but procedures preserving the canaliculus, especially in patients with horizontal CO, did not yield good results, even for an affected single canaliculus.
