Primary probing for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction has high success rate

Issue: January 10, 2017

The majority of eyes treated with primary probing for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction had successful outcomes after the first intervention, according to a study.

The retrospective observational analysis, conducted at Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, Northern Ireland, included 246 eyes of 177 patients. All patients were younger than 10 years and treated for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

One hundred eight-seven eyes (76%) treated with primary probing at first intervention experienced successful outcomes. Fifty-nine eyes of 47 patients had persistent symptoms of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction after the first intervention, and three patients declined further treatment. Of the remaining 44 patients (56 eyes), 32 underwent unilateral intervention and 12 underwent bilateral intervention. Following exclusion of select eyes, 24 eyes underwent secondary probing, and 24 eyes underwent silicone intubation.

“For those patients requiring secondary intervention, 16 of 24 (67%) eyes had successful probing, whereas 22 of 24 (92%) had successful intubation,” the study authors said.

Intubation as a secondary intervention had significantly higher successful outcomes than probing (P = .037).

Disclosure: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.

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Source:

Napier ML, et al. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2016;doi:10.3928/01913913-20160629-01.