The course of epiphora after failure of silicone intubation for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction

Yanir Kassif, Uri Rehany, Michal David, Anna Popko, Shimon Rumelt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: One of the indications for dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) in children with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO) is failure of silicone intubation. We evaluated the course of epiphora after failure of silicone intubation for CNLDO when DCR was not performed. Methods: In a comparative cohort study carried out at a tertiary referral center, ten eyes of seven consecutive children who had failure of silicone intubation manifested as persistent epiphora over 2 months and whose parents refused DCR were followed up for an average of 50.4 months (range 33-70 months). Three lacrimal drainage systems of three other children who had failure of silicone intubation underwent uneventful DCR. Results: In eight (80%) of the ten consecutive eyes with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (six of the seven children, 86%), there was spontaneous complete resolution of the epiphora and normal dye disappearance test (DDT) at the end of the follow-up period. One child with Down's syndrome, allergic rhinitis, asthma and multiple site obstructions had improvement of symptoms but abnormal DDT. The epiphora in all three children who underwent DCR had disappeared by 6 months after surgery when the silicone tube was removed. No complications were noted during the follow-up. Conclusions: Epiphora can spontaneously resolve after failure of silicone intubation in CNLDO, and DCR should no longer considered be compulsory in such cases unless complications evolve.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)758-762
Number of pages5
JournalGraefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
Volume243
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2005
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Children
  • Congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction
  • Dacryocystorhinostomy
  • Epiphora
  • Natural course
  • Silicone intubation

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