Success of probing for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction in children under 10 years of age.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the success of probing for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction in children aged under 10 years.

DESIGN: A retrospective study.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: The medical records of all children aged under 10 years diagnosed with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction between 1997 and 2007 who underwent probing and irrigation under general anesthesia were reviewed. Successful probing was defined as absence of tearing and eye discharge in the affected eye at one month or more after treatment. Data obtained included age at first visit, gender laterality of the eyes, history of previous probing, age at probing time, number of probing, and treatment outcomes. Patients were categorized into four groups according to age at treatment (0-1 year, 1-2 years, 2-3 years and 3-10 years).

RESULTS: Forty-four patients were seen during the study period, 19 males and 25females, with 29 right eyes and 30 left eyes undergoing treatments of 29 unilateral probing and 15 bilateral probing. The age at probing ranged from 10 months to 9.6 years (mean +/- SD, 2.51 +/- 1.82 years). Successful probing were identified in 47 out of 59 eyes (80%, 95% CI = 67 to 89%). Most successful eyes required only one probing and only two eyes needed a second probing. The success rates were 80% (8/10 eyes) in patients 0-1 year of age, 86% (18/21 eyes) in patients 1-2 years of age, 75% (12/16 eyes) in patients 2-3 years of age, and 75% (9/12 eyes) in patients 3-10 years of age.

CONCLUSION: The success rate of probing for treatment of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction varies, depending on the age of the child at treatment. It was higher in children under 2 years than in older children.