Success rates of primary probing for congenital nasolacrimal obstruction in children

PURPOSE: To determine the success rate of nasolacrimal duct probing for the treatment of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction and to identify the age at which the success rate decreases. METHODS: Records for probing procedures from 2005 to 2010, over a 56-month period, were reviewed. Successful probing was defined as complete resolution of epiphora 3 months after treatment. Success rates were compared between children <3 years of age and children ≥3 years of age at the time of the procedure. RESULTS: A total of 168 eyes (128 children, mean age 32.2 ± 23.8 months) had undergone a probing procedure, and the overall success rate was 72%. Children aged <36 months had a success rate of 78%; children aged ≥36 months had a success rate of 50%. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that age at the time of procedure was a significant risk factor for failed probing (P = 0.035; OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.04-2.69), whereas sex and bilateral surgery were not. CONCLUSIONS: The success rate of primary probing for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction was significantly reduced when performed on children ≥3 years of age.