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.