[Primary lacrimal duct probing in congenital dacryocystitis. Disadvantages and alternatives]

Conventional lacrimal duct probing is a common but not always successful treatment of lacrimal duct obstruction in infants. Some authors report on a high incidence of false passage during lacrimal duct probing proved by endoscopic, histological and clinical examinations. Others report on permanent scarring caused by damage of the lining mucosa of the nasolacrimal duct after probing. Therefore a conservatively unsuccessfully treated lacrimal duct obstruction in infants should be followed by high pressure irrigation and if necessary by silicon intubation of the lacrimal system.