Dacryoendoscopic Examination of the Lacrimal System

Abstract

Dacryoendoscopy is a procedure utilizing microendoscopic techniques to visualize the entire lacrimal system from the puncta to the inferior meatus [1–10]. It is gaining firm ground and increasing popularity for expanding indications in lacrimal disorders, thus having many diagnostic and potential therapeutic implications [1–10]. Till the late 1990s, the microendoscopic systems were not well developed; however, with the advancement in other specialties like endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), numerous microendoscopes with a good image quality were designed. Dacryoendoscopes used in the past include the Junemann probe and the vitroptic. Additional channels were added for example for laser delivery of KTP-YAG or Erbium-YAG laser for laser dacryoplasty and micropunches for sample collection. The author performs it using a 0.6-mm microendoscope (Karl Storz, Tuttlingen, Germany), which was adapted and partly modified from the original sialoendoscope. This chapter discusses the instruments, indications, techniques, and findings of a normal dacryoendoscopic examination.