Shahid Azim Mirza, Nisar Ahmed Siyal, Arif Memon, Mehtab Alam Khanzada, Abdullah El Mutt Aqi, Asad Azim Mirza, Sikandar Azim Mirza.
Effi cacy of probing in young adult in nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
Pak J Surg Jan ;28(4):301-4.

Objective: To investigate the effi cacy of probing in young adult with the compliant epiphora due to nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NIDO). Methodology: Th e effi cacy of probing in patients with complaints of moderate to severe epiphora was investigated from Jan 2008 to Mar 2009 in the department of ophthalmology at JMCH. Patients were 20 year of age or older and had either partial or complete idiopathic NLD block. Results: Th ere were 130 patients ( 85 female , 45 male ) , and the mean age was 52.5 +- 12.9 (range 20-70). NLDO was seen on the right side in 65 cases on the left side in 45 cases , and bilaterally in 20 cases. Out of these 16.7 % of the patients had partial NLDO and 56.8 % had complete NLDO. Epiphora had persisted for 1-2-1 months. Ninety (75%) patient were treated by single probing and followed up for six months follow-up. Th e 40 (33.4%) patients were treated in which probing failed or in which there was recurrence aft er the fi rst probing , 15 had partial NLDO and 25 had complete NLDO. Th ey agreed to a second intervention and were probed 2 months aft er the initial procedure.With the second probing , the success rate increased to 77.8%. Th e follow-up period was 6-24 (mean 9.20_+ 7.03) months. Probing was successful in 44 (36.7%) out of 54 eyes with complete NLDO and in 60 (50%) out of 66 eyes with partial NLDO . Th ere was no signifi cicant diff erence in the success rate of complete and partial NLDO (p.0.05,chi square: 1:93) Conclusion: Probing can be considered an initial treatment for epiphora in adults especially in those who are poor candidates for surgery. A considerable proportion of adult NLDO cases are treatable with this simple and inexpensive model.

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