title: Initial nasolacrimal duct probing in children under age 5: cure rate and factors affecting success.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the success rate of initial probing and the factors affecting the success rate for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO)in children under the age of 5 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective uncontrolled interventional case series, 207 eyes from 161 consecutive patients with CNLDO underwent nasolacrimal duct probing under brief general anesthesia. Based on exclusion criteria, 180 eyes from 139 patients were included in the study. Diagnoses were made according to the patients' histories, clinical examinations, and modified dye disappearance tests. The state of the punctum, the canaliculus, the sac, and the nasolacrimal duct were recorded. The main outcome measure was the complete disappearance of tearing and discharge in the affected eye. The patients were followed at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The age range was 5 to 60 months (mean, 19.1 +/- 11.2 months). The cure rates were 92% in the first year, 84.5% in the second year, 65% in the third year, and 63.5 in the fourth and fifth years of age. The patient's age, nonmemberanous CNLDO, and canalicular stenosis were correlated with the success of initial nasolacrimal duct probing (P <.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the results, simplicity of probing, and absence of significant complications, initial nasolacrimal duct probing is advised up to the age of 5 years. Increasing age, nonmembranous CNLDO, and canalicular stenosis increase the failure rate (P <.05).
authors.affiliation: Lacrimal and Adnexal Unit, Eye Department, Rassoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. babmanik@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mohsen Bahmani
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Kashkouli
authors.forename: Abolfazl
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kassaee
authors.forename: Ziaeddin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tabatabaee
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003607:Dacryocystitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007440:Intubation / Q000379:methods*; D007767:Lacrimal Duct Obstruction / Q000151:congenital; D008297:Male; D009301:Nasolacrimal Duct / Q000601:surgery*; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012086:Reoperation; D016896:Treatment Outcome