Management and Presentation of Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction

Aim: To review the presentation of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction and the results of probing and conservative treatment. Study design: A Prospective observational and comparative study. Place and duration: In the Ophthalmology Unit-I of Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur for one year duration from January 2018 to December 2018. Methods: 100 eyes of 80 children were examined. Into two groups, the children were divided. Group 1 included children up to 6 months. Initially, they were managed conservatively with topical antibiotics and massage. In the second group, children from six months to 3 years were selected. All were treated conservatively, but did not respond, so they were done with probing. Results: In the first group, 83% of 25 patients with affected 30 eyes recovered with conservative treatment. In the second group, 87% of the 70 affected children responded to the first probing, 9% responded to the second probing, 4% did not respond despite the third time of probing. Overall success ratio was 97% in both conservative and catheter treatment. Conclusion: Most children with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction relieved with conservative treatment. In the remainder of the cases that are unsuccessful, most of the children are done with probing successfully.