Treatment of Acquired Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction Complicated after Acute Conjunctivitis in Children

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to evaluate outcome of treatment of acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction complicated after acute conjunctivitis in children.The study included 16 eyes in 16 patients from March 1997 to June 1999.Probing was only successful in 2 cases.Silicone tube intubation was done in 14 cases at 16.4 months after acute conjunctivitis.The results were compared with 10 eyes of 12 patients who had undergone silicone intubation for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction.At two weeks after operation, congenital group showed better outcome compared to acquired group (Mann-Whitney test, p<0.05).But, at 8, 16 weeks and final follow-up, there was no statistically significant difference.In our case of acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction complicated after acute conjunctivitis in children, silicone intubation was more needed than probing and it was worth trying because final outcomes of both groups were not significantly different in spite of slow improvement.