Endoscopic-assisted reconstructive surgery of the lacrimal duct.

Reconstructive surgery of the nasolacrimal duct, or dacryocystorhinostomy, can be performed via an external or endonasal approach. For almost a century external dacryocystorhinostomy was the gold standard for correction of lacrimal duct obstruction. The endonasal approach became a safe surgical procedure using endoscopes and has the same anatomic and functional success rate as the external approach. It can be performed in adults and in children with close collaboration between a rhinologist and an ophthalmologist. An overview is given of the literature and of the authors' experience in this field.