The results of late probing in congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

Purpose: To evaluate the results of lacrimal probing in children at or older than 1 year of age with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

Materials And Methods: Fifty eyes of 38 children (24 males, 14 females) with congenital epiphora who underwent nasolacrimal duct probing were evaluated in a prospective study. The age of the patients was between 12 and 101 months (mean: 33 months). Success of probing was defined as complete resolution of preoperative symptoms and signs. The mean follow-up was 8 months (3-28 months).

Results: The success rate of probing was 88% (44/50 eyes). Residual epiphora was observed in 6 eyes of 4 patients (12%). Age of the patient, gender, the frequency of epiphora before probing and the unilaterality or bilaterality of epiphora did not correlate with the success of probing (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Nasolacrimal duct probing is advocated as a primary treatment in children younger than 9 years of age before proceeding to more complex treatment options. Unsuccessful probing may result from the selection of nonmembranous obstructions rather than the increased age of the patients.