injection of mitomycin-c in nasolacrimal duct for treatment of partial nasolacrimal duct obstruction

purpose:  to determine the safety and efficacy of mitomycin-c injection into the lacrimal duct for treatment of partial nasolacrimal duct obstruction in adults. method: this is a before-after clinical trial performed on 20 patients with partial primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction. we injected 1.5 ml of mitomycin-c 0.2 mg/ml into the lacrimal duct and repeated it with concentration of 0.3 mg/ml for inadequate response. results: after 9 months of follow up, epiphora decreased in 80% of the patients, while the amount of obstruction decreased to 50% . in patients with  low grade anatomical obstruction the imporvement was 100% and with increasing degrees of obstruction, the success rate of this intervention decreased. ophthalmic complications did not occur and nasal mucosal pallor was observed only in one patient. conclusion: intraductal mitomycin injection can reduce epiphora in adults with partial primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction and is a safe method.