Determining the Type of Procedure in Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction: The Results of Our Procedures

Objective: To evaluate the indications and results of procedures in congenital nasolacrimal duct obstructions. Material and Methods: The patients who are diagnosed congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction were included into the study between 1999 and 2006, ages between 4 months and 19 years. We performed probing on the 77 eyes of 57 patients (ages between 4 months and 4 years), balloon dacryocystoplasty on the 25 eyes of 21 patients (ages between 21 months and 9 years), silicone intubation on the 29 eyes of 24 patients (ages between 24 months and 10 years), dacryocytorhinostomy on the 25 eyes of 20 patients (ages between 5 years and 19 years). Type of surgery procedure was decided according to age, history, preoperative, and especially peroperative examination of the patient. Results: Success rate were achieved as % 89 with probing, % 88 with balloon dacryocystoplasty, % 68.9 with silicone intubation, % 92 with dacryocystorhinostomy. Conclusion: There is variable parameters that affect the success of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction surgery as preoperatif frequency of epiphora, history of medical treatmentmassaging and surgery, age. These parameters are important to decide the type of surgery procedure but findings of peroperative examination should be the main criterion that will effect the success. Additionaly when the results of this study are evaluated, we believe that BDCP should be the first choice of therapy instead of other invasive procedures and approaches with high rate of complications in patients who are older patients.