The success rate of silicone intubation in congenital lacrimal obstruction.

In our series of 100 patients who had unsuccessful probing for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction, all had silicone intubation associated with infracturing of the inferior turbinate. The age range was from 7 months to 4 years at the time of intubation. Sixty patients had tubes in for 1 year, and all but one, a 3-year-old girl, were treated successfully. Of the 40 who had tubes in place for less than 1 year, 38 were treated successfully. The two unsuccessful cases were those of a 3-year-old boy and a 4-year-old boy, whose tubes were removed at 3 and 4 months, respectively. The overall success rate in our series was 97%; all patients younger than two years old at the time of intubation were treated successfully.