Contemporary advances in endoscopic surgery of the paranasal sinuses make it possible to identify and open the lacrimal system via the nasal sinus. The authors describe four cases of chronic dacryocystitis with obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct in three women and one man aged 22 to 56 years. In all four patients the lacrimal sac was opened endoscopically by the endonasal route and safeguarded by drainage. In the discussion the authors deal with contemporary views on this problem.

        Key words: endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy