Incidence and clinical characteristics of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction with concurrent craniofacial abnormalities among a population-based cohort.

PURPOSE

Data supporting treatment recommendations for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO) in patients with craniofacial abnormalities is scarce. This study reports the incidence, clinical features, and outcomes of patients with concomitant craniofacial abnormalities and CNLDO.

METHODS

This multi-center, retrospective, population-based cohort study included all patients diagnosed with CNLDO before age 6 during a 10-year period in a single US county.

RESULTS

Of the 17,713 live births during the study period, 1998 infants were diagnosed with CNLDO, among whom 41 (2.05%) had associated congenital craniofacial abnormalities, yielding a birth prevalence of 23.1 (95% CI 16.6-31.4) per 10,000 live births. Craniofacial patients were significantly older at time of diagnosis (6.2 months) compared to uncomplicated CNLDO (3.7 months;  = 0.035). There was no significant difference in mean age at spontaneous CNLDO resolution, but 31.7% of craniofacial patients required probing for CNLDO resolution, compared to 14.5% in the CNLDO group (OR 2.76 [95%CI 1.41-5.39]  = 0.003). All but two patients with craniofacial abnormalities had resolution of symptoms after initial probing. Intraoperative probing findings indicated that 8 of 13 craniofacial patients had complex obstructions.

CONCLUSIONS

The similar age at spontaneous resolution indicates that watchful waiting until approximately one year of age is a reasonable approach even in patients with craniofacial abnormalities, though more of these patients may require surgical intervention.