[Watering of the eyes in infants: how to treat it?].

The congenital impermeability of see lacrymal is frequent affection of new born. Whimpering is the master symptom. We propose a retrospective study with 492 cases of congenital imperforations treated in our ophthalmology department in Sfax, between 1990 and 2000. We showed the clinical characteristics of our study and therapeutic result. For these children, various therapeutic methods were used: the washing of the lacrymal ways with or without pressure. A survey is undertaken on first, second and third time if necessary; in the event of failure we do lacrymal pathway intubation or the dacryocystorhinostomy at a more advanced age. The naso-lacrymal repermeability is obtained in 92.9% (457 cases), spontaneous repermeabilisation in 112 cases; 84 cases by washing and 293 cases by single or multiple survey. This study is encouraging collaboration between pediatrics and ophthalmologists to consult early when whimpering is noted.