Success Rate of Probing In Cases of Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction at Various Age Group – A Hospital Based Study.

Success Rate of Probing In Cases of Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction

Abstract

Background: Purpose: To determine success rate of probing for congenital Nasolacrimal duct obstruction at various age group. Subjects and Methods: The study was a prospective non comparative study done in the Dept. of Ophthalmology, PMCH, Patna from Jan 2017 to Jan 2019. 36 children (72 eyes) aged 5 months to 48 months diagnosed with congenital NLD obstruction were included in the study These were divided into Group 1 – below 6 months , Group 2 – 7 months to 12 months , Group3 -  13 months to 24 months , Group4 -  25 months to 48 months . Probing was done under GA in all subjects. All patients were followed at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months respectfully. The probing was considered successful when complete remission of symptoms occurred after two weeks following the procedure. Results: The success rate of probing was 100% (18 eyes) in group 1, 91% (22 eyes)  in group 2, 81 % (13 eyes) in group 3, and 35.7% in group 4.The overall success rate was 76.9%. Conclusion: The success rate of probing decreased with increasing age and age over 24 months predicts poor outcome. Hence, one should proceed with early probing than to wait for spontaneous resolution.