Conventional or endoscopic probing for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

PURPOSE To compare conventional and endoscopic probing for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction in infants. METHODS Conventional probing was performed in 22 eyes of 18 patients, age range 7-14 months (mean 11.4 months). Probing was done with intranasal endoscopic visualization in 18 eyes of 14 patients, age range 7-13 months (mean 11.2 months). All were primary probing cases. RESULTS After conventional probing 2 of the 22 cases required reprobing. After endoscopic probing only 1 of the 18 cases required reprobing. CONCLUSIONS In most cases of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction endoscopy is not required; however, in failed cases direct visualization of the inferior meatus with endoscopic guidance may be helpful.