Factors affecting the success of nasolacrimal duct probing for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction

PURPOSE: To ascertain the effect of certain parameters on nasolacrimal duct probing. METHODS: In a retrospective study of 142 infants and children who underwent nasolacrimal duct probing: for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction, a ge at time of probing, gender, symptom severity, presence of mucous dischar ge, and history of probing were correlated with success of nasolacrimal pro bing. Success of probing was defined as complete resolution of signs and sy mptoms of nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Chi-square test was used to analyz e covariance. RESULTS: Success of nasolacrimal duct probing was negatively correlated wit h increasing age: 92%, 89%, 80%, 71%, and 42% at age 12, 24, 36, 48,and 60 months, respectively (P = .001 at each interval). Increasing severity of ep iphora was correlated with increased failure of nasolacrimal duct probing ( P = .05). CONCLUSIONS: Although the success of nasolacrimal duct probing declines wit h age, probing in older children can remain the first line of treatment. Be cause increasing frequency of epiphora correlates with failure of nasolacri mal duct probing, children with daily epiphora should undergo early nasolac rimal duct probing. (C) 1999 by Elsevier Science Inc, All rights reserved.