OBJECTIVE: To compare endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (EN-DCR) with sheath-guided dacryoendoscopic probing and bicanalicular intubation (SG-BCI) by evaluating tear meniscus area (TMA) and total high-order aberrations (HOAs) for primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (PANDO).
METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 56 eyes of 42 patients (7 men, 35 women; age, 72.7±13.1 years) who underwent EN-DCR or SG-BCI for PANDO in Toyama University Hospital from February 2020 to June 2022. In the EN-DCR and SG-BCI groups, we measured the patency of the lacrimal passage, preoperative and postoperative TMA, and HOAs of the central 4 mm of the cornea using optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT), six months postoperatively.
RESULTS: There was a positive correlation between preoperative TMA and preoperative HOAs in all cases. Postoperative patency of lacrimal passage was 100% in the EN-DCR and 80.8% in the SG-BCI group. There was a significant difference in the number of passages between the two groups (p = 0.01). Preoperative TMA and HOAs showed a significant postoperative decrease in both groups (EN-DCR group: p<0.01, p<0.01, SG-BCI group: p<0.01, p=0.03, respectively). We then calculated the rate of change of preoperative and postoperative TMA and HOAs and compared them between the two groups. The rate of change was significantly higher in the EN-DCR group than that in the SG-BCI group (TMA, p=0.03; HOAs, p=0.02).
CONCLUSIONS: Although both EN-DCR and SG-BCI are effective for PANDO, our results suggest that EN-DCR is more effective in improving TMA and HOAs.

To evaluate the results of endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy performed in a tertiary care hospital. Prospective, nonrandomized, interventional clinical study. A prospective interventional study was performed on 104 patients presenting with epiphora between January 2006 and January 2010. All patients were operated by one surgeon. Out of 104 cases, 08 cases were of revision endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). Bicanalicular silicon intubation was performed in all cases of revision endonasal DCR. Twelve patients had concomitant sinonasal disease for which septoplasty or FESS was done. The patency of nasolacrimal duct was assessed by doing syringing of lacrimal passage weekly for 1 month, monthly for 3 month, then at 6 month and 1 year. Out of 104 patients 10 patients lost follow up after surgery. Ninety four patients were followed for 1 year. On syringing, rhinostomy site was found patent in 80 patients (85.10 %), therefore they were fully satisfied. In 6 cases (6.38 %) minimal block was seen with clear fluid regurgitation, were to some extent symptomatically relieved and were found to be satisfied, whereas in 08 cases (8.51 %) syringing showed complete block. They required further management. Success rate of our study is comparable to other studies on endonasal DCR as well as external DCR, with advantages of less intra-operative bleeding, shorter operative time, better cosmesis, preservation of lacrimal pump mechanism. Other nasal pathology can be treated at the same time. Our results are clinically as well as statistically highly significant (P value < 0.0001).