title: Probing without irrigation in children with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of probing, without fluorescein irrigation, as a primary treatment for epiphora and/or mucous discharge, secondary to congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO) METHODS: The medical records of nine-two children (127 eyes) with CNLDO who underwent a single probing without the use of fluorescein irrigation between January 2006 and December 2011 were reviewed retrospectively. Inclusion criteria were no prior nasolacrimal surgical procedure, history of epiphora and/or discharge since birth or shortly after birth in one or both eyes and at least one of the following clinical signs: epiphora, muco-purulent discharge and increased tear meniscus height. Children were investigated in two sub-groups based on age at time of probing; group 1 (51 eyes/40 children) included children who underwent probing at age ≤ 2 years and group 2 (76 eyes/52 children) included children who underwent probing at age > 2years. The primary outcome was the complete disappearance of symptoms and signs in the affected eye(s), assessed at 3 months after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The success rate for the overall sample was 83.5 % (106/127 eyes), in group 1 was 90.2% (46/51) and in group 2 was 78.9% (60/76). There was no significant difference in success rate between groups (p=0.094). Gender (p=0.292), affected eye (p=0.647) and bilateral cases (p=0.739) were not associated with successful elimination of symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Probing without fluorescein irrigation for CNLDO beyond 1 year of age is highly successful and comparable to the published efficacy rates of the traditional probing with fluorescein irrigation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, McMaster University Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8N 3Z5. isazazgm@mcmaster.ca
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Isaza
authors.forename: Sourabh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arora
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome