Bicanalicular lacrimal intubation as a primary surgical treatment for nasolacrimal duct obstruction in children

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the success of bicanalicular lacrimal intubation as a primary treatment in cases of epiphora caused by congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction in children up to 6 years of age.Patients and methodsA prospective surgical intervention case series study was carried out in the Ophthalmology Department of Minia University Hospital. Forty-six eyes of 43 children with epiphora (dated since birth or shortly after) were enroled in this study. A bicanalicular lacrimal silicon tube was introduced through the nasolacrimal duct to the nose.ResultsIn this study, the primary lacrimal intubation was successful in 40 eyes out of 46 eyes (87%). For children aged 1–2 years, primary intubation was successful in 22 eyes out of 24 (91.6%), and for those aged 2–4 years it was successful in 12 eyes out of 14 (85.7%). On the other hand, for children aged between 4 and 6 years, the procedure was less successful: six eyes out of eight (75%). Improvement of symptoms occurred in two eyes out of four (50%) when the tubes were removed early, and this rate increased to 90.9% in 20 out of 22 eyes when the tubes were retained for up to 3–6 months and to 90% in 18 out of 20 eyes when the tubes were retained for up to 6–12 months.ConclusionBicanalicular lacrimal intubation is a successful treatment for children with nasolacrimal duct obstruction, and the younger the age of the children the higher the success rate