Conventional or endoscopic probing for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction

PURPOSE. To compare conventional and endoscopic probing for congenital naso lacrimal duct obstruction in infants. METHODS. Conventional probing was performed in 22 eyes of 18 patients, age range 7-14 months (mean 11.4 months). Probing was done with intranasal endo scopic visualization in 18 eyes of 14 patients, age range 7-13 months (mean 11.2 months). All were primary probing cases. RESULTS. After conventional probing 2 of the 22 cases required reprobing. A fter endoscopic probing only 1 of the 18 cases required reprobing. CONCLUSIONS. In most cases of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction endo scopy is not required; however, in failed cases direct visualization of the inferior meatus with endoscopic guidance may be helpful.