Which Tear-Duct surgery works better? a Head-to-Head test
NCT ID NCT07754058
First seen Aug 10, 2026 · Last updated Aug 11, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial compares two operations for primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction, a condition where tears cannot drain normally from the eye into the nose, causing persistent tearing. One surgery uses a small skin incision near the inner corner of the eye, while the other goes through the nose with an endoscope and powered tools. Both procedures apply mitomycin C during surgery to reduce scarring. The study follows 60 participants for 12 months to see which approach keeps the new tear drainage opening clear and better relieves tearing symptoms.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Two surgical procedures: external dacryocystorhinostomy (through a skin incision near the inner eye) and powered endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (through the nose with an endoscope), both with mitomycin C applied during surgery to reduce scarring.
- What this could lead to
- If one approach proves better, it could point to a preferred surgical method for restoring tear drainage and reducing tearing in people with blocked tear ducts.
- What could go wrong
- This is a single trial with 60 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Surgery carries risks like infection, bleeding, or scarring, and the new opening may close over time.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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60 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jul 2023
- Finished
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Mar 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 years or older. * Unilateral or bilateral pathological epiphora not expected to improve with conservative treatment. * Confirmed primary acquired obstruction at the level of the lacrimal sac or nasolacrimal duct, with an indication for dacryocystorhinostomy. * General health status permitting surgery under general anesthesia and participation in the 12-month follow-up. * Ability to understand the study requirements and comply with the scheduled study procedures and follow-up visits. * Written informed consent to participate in the study and undergo surgery. Exclusion Criteria: * History of previous lacrimal drainage surgery, including external, endoscopic, or laser-assisted dacryocystorhinostomy. * Acute inflammation or infection of the lacrimal drainage system, nasal cavity, or paranasal sinuses. * Suspected neoplastic lesion of the lacrimal drainage system, nasal cavity, or paranasal sinuses. * Clinically significant abnormalities of the eyelids or ocular adnexa that could contribute to epiphora. * History of eyelid surgery. * Documented hypersensitivity to mitomycin C or any medication used during the preoperative, intraoperative, or postoperative procedures. * Cognitive impairment, psychiatric disorder, or emotional instability preventing valid informed consent or adherence to the study procedures. * Inability or unwillingness to comply with the scheduled examinations and follow-up visits. * General medical condition precluding surgery under general anesthesia. * Serious life-limiting disease or another medical condition preventing completion of the 12-month follow-up. * Pregnancy or breastfeeding. * Women of childbearing potential not using an accepted method of contraception.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Military Institute of Medicine - National Research Institute
Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, 04-141, Poland
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.