title: Probing for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction in older children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of probing in congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction in children age 2 years and older and to establish factors predictive of the outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study was conducted on consecutive patients older than 24 months with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. All patients were treated with a simple nasolacrimal duct probing as primary treatment. Outcome measures included an ophthalmologic examination plus a parental history of residual symptoms at one and 6 months after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 82 children with a mean age of 34.5 months (range, 24 months to 60 months) underwent nasolacrimal duct probing. The complete response rate was 54%. Partial response and failure were observed in 25% and 20.8% of the eyes, respectively. Bilateral obstruction was associated with failure of probing (P = 0.007, Odds Ratio: 5.76). However, age older than 36 months was not associated with the failure rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary probing maintains a high success rate without any age related decline in congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Farabi Eye Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Bahram
authors: B
authors: Eshragi
authors: Masoud Aghsaei
authors: MA
authors: Fard
authors: Babak
authors: B
authors: Masomian
authors: Mohammadreza
authors: M
authors: Akbari
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007767:Lacrimal Duct Obstruction / Q000151:congenital; D008297:Male; D009301:Nasolacrimal Duct / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Congenital Nasolacrimal Obstruction; Epiphora; Probing