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    Lacrimal Endoscopy for Lacrimal Canaliculitis Induced by Punctal Plug Migration

    By Hiroshi Tanaka, MD; Manabu Sugimoto, MD; Akihide Watanabe, MD; Shigeru Kinoshita, MD
    AAO 2015
    Oculoplastics/Orbit

    Lacrimal endoscopy has been used to observe and treat lacrimal disorders such as nasolacrimal duct obstruction and lacrimal canaliculitis and has the advantage of enabling observation of the inner lacrimal passage via a video monitor during surgery. In 4 cases of lacrimal canaliculitis due to punctal plug migration into the canaliculi, 3 cases were treated with lacrimal endoscopy by pushing out the punctual plugs from the lacrimal canaliculi to the inferior nasal meatus, and 1 case with lacrimal canaliculi obstraction was treated by cutting the lacrimal canaliculi to pull out the plug. Lacrimal endoscopy is a minimally invasive diagnostic procedure that is also useful for treating cases of a foreign body inside the lacrimal canaliculi.