A controlled study of silver nitrate prophylaxis and the incidence of nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

The caustic property of silver nitrate prompted a double-blind, controlled study of a possible causal relationship between use of the agent for prophylaxis against ophthalmic infection in the newborn and the subsequent development of nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Follow-up of 145 newborns randomized either to 1% silver nitrate prophylaxis or to 1% tetracycline prophylaxis revealed no statistically significant difference in the incidence of nasolacrimal duct obstruction between the two groups at either two weeks or two months of age. It is concluded that silver nitrate prophylaxis does not predispose to nasolacrimal duct obstruction in the newborn.