title: Assessment and management of proximal and incomplete symptomatic obstruction of the lacrimal drainage system.
abstract: Epiphora is a common complaint of patients who present to an Ophthalmology Clinic. In many cases, epiphora is due to an obstruction in the lacrimal drainage system. However, a subgroup of symptomatic patients with epiphora has a patent lacrimal drainage system. Such cases are usually termed 'functional obstruction' and / or 'stenosis of the lacrimal drainage system'. Various etiologies and diagnostic and therapeutic approaches have been described in literature, which implies the lack of a standardized approach. This article will review the evolving diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in literature, and in the end, propose a paradigm in approaching this group of patients.
authors.affiliation: Eye Research Center, Rassoul Akram Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen Bahmani
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Kashkouli
authors.forename: Farzad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pakdel
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kiavash