The rate of symptomatic improvement of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction in Japanese infants treated with conservative management during the 1st year of age

Original Research

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Authors: Hirohiko Kakizaki, Yasuhiro Takahashi, Shinsuke Kinoshita, Kunihiko Shiraki, Masayoshi Iwaki

Published Date June 2008 Volume 2008:2(2) Pages 291 - 294

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S2582

Hirohiko Kakizaki¹, Yasuhiro Takahashi², Shinsuke Kinoshita¹, Kunihiko Shiraki², Masayoshi Iwaki¹

¹Department of Ophthalmology, Aichi Medical University, Aichi, Japan; ²Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan

Abstract: This study aimed to examine the rate of symptomatic improvement of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO) in Japanese infants treated with conservative management within the 1st year of age. Thirty-five lacrimal ducts in 27 patients diagnosed with CNLDO were included in the study. During the observational period, lacrimal ducts were massaged. As well, antibiotic eye drops, to be administered 4 times a day, were sometimes prescribed for obvious conjunctivitis. Two lacrimal ducts in 2 patients were probed before the 1st year of age because of dacryocystitis or severe blepharitis; these patients were included in the unimproved group. Twenty-nine lacrimal ducts in 21 patients resolved during the period (82.9%); with 16 lacrimal ducts resolving before six months of age. Therefore, a comparatively high percentage of resolution for CNLDO (82.9%) following conservative management was shown before the 1st year of age in Japanese infants.

Keywords: congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction, symptomatic improvement, conservative management, massage, probing

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