Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction and Its Risk Factors in Premature Neonates

To determine the frequency of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO) in premature newborns and its correlation with gestational age (GA), sex, family history and chronological age. This study was performed on infants who were referred for retinopathy of prematurity from 2002 to 2003. Cases of CNLDO were visited again three and six months later. This study was conducted on 60 preterm infants (26 male, 34 female) with gestational age of 33.2±1.3 weeks (range 25-36) and age of 3.8±0.9 months (range 1.5-6) at first presentation, of which 13 had CNLDO (9 unilateral and 4 bilateral). Overall, 17 out of 120 ducts (14.1%) were obstructed. There was no correlation between CNLDO and sex, family history or gestational age. Three months later 58.4% of the obstructions were cleared and at the 6 month visit, 25% of residual obstructions were cleared, such that the total remission rate at 6 months was 83.4%. In premature newborns with CNLDO, the rate of spontaneous clearing of the obstruction is greater than 80% during the first 6 months.