title: Clinical profile of the patients with pediatric epiphora in a tertiary eye care center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the clinical profile of children aged <10 years presenting with epiphora at a tertiary eye care center, to compare the clinical profile between the early onset (<3 years) and the late-onset (≥3 years) group, and to study the success of different treatment modalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective nonrandomized observational study was conducted in 209 eyes of 167 patients (42 bilateral cases). The main outcome measure was postoperative relief of presenting symptoms and signs at 3 months follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-five percent cases (92 of 167) were early-onset cases, and 45% (75 of 167) were late onset. The male:female ratio was 1.9:1. Seventy-five percent cases were unilateral. The etiological profile was -76% cases of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO), 18% traumatic/surgical, 4% acquired NLDO, and 2% punctal causes. The overall success rate of all the treatment modalities in our study was 80% (167/208) -82% for sac massage, 77% for probing, 79% for intubation dacryocystorhinostomy, and 100% for punctal surgery. A significant association was noted between the treatment outcome and laterality (P = 0.04), presence of infection (P = 0.032), symptom severity (P = 0.027), history of previous treatment (P = 0.024), and age. No significant association was found between the treatment outcome and gender (P = 0.73), socioeconomic status (P = 0.43), etiology (P = 0.45), and treatment modality (P = 0.33).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study describes the complete range of causes and treatment modalities for pediatric epiphora and highlights the etiology, signs and symptoms, treatment, and the comparative outcome between the early versus the late-onset group and analyses the factors predictive of the outcome.
authors.affiliation: Oculoplasty Services, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Rebika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dhiman
authors.affiliation: Oculoplasty Services, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Bhavna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chawla
authors.affiliation: Oculoplasty Services, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Mahesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chandra
authors.affiliation: Oculoplasty Services, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Mandeep S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bajaj
authors.affiliation: Oculoplasty Services, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Neelam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pushker
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007766:Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D009301:Nasolacrimal Duct / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D016896:Treatment Outcome