Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction in Premature Children

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the incidence of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO) in premature and full-term children.Methods: Medical records of 200 premature and 200 full-term children from July 2004 to November 2009 at the Peri-Peri Health Center were retrospectively reviewed. Fifty-three nasolacrimal ducts in 32 premature children (21 patients were bilateral) and 9 nasolacrimal ducts in 7 full-term children (2 patients were bilateral) diagnosed as having CNLDO were retrospectively examined.Results: of the 200 premature children, 32 (16%) had CNLDO compared with 7 (3.5%) of the 200 full-term infants (P < .0001). Thirty premature infants and five full-term children underwent conservative treatment. Bilateral obstruction was found in all 3 extremely premature children (gestational age < 28 weeks), in 9 (69.23%) moderately premature children (gestational age of 28 to 31 weeks), in 9 (56.25%) mildly premature children (gestational age of 32 to 36 weeks), and in 2 (28.57%) full-term children (gestational age > 37 weeks).Conclusions: This study reported a higher incidence of CNLDO in preterm infants when compared to fullterm infants. This might be expected in light of the normal development of the nasolacrimal duct system, the patency of which normally occurs after the preterm infant is born.