Pakistan Journal of Medical Research, 2012 (January - March) 15 Pak J Med Res Vol. 51, No. 1, 2012 Frequency of Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction Sikander Hayat Khan, 1 Sabiha M Haq, 2 Mirza Inam ul Haq, 2 Shahzad Akhter Aziz 2 Department of Anatomy, Islamic International Dental College, Islamabad, 1 Islamic International Medical College, Rawalpindi. 2 Abstract Objectives: To determine the frequency of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction in children having congenital malformations of the eyes coming to the tertiary care eye hospital. Study type, settings and duration: Descriptive study done at Al Shifa eye hospital Rawalpindi from January 2004 to December 2007. Materials and Methods: Retrospective case record analysis of all children coming to the hospital with congenital malformation of nasolacrimal duct along with other congenital malformations of the eyes were included in the study. Children with no congenital anomalies of the eyes but having nasolacrimal duct obstruction were excluded. Results: Congenital malformations of eyes were seen in 514 cases (289 males and 225 females). The age distribution was from birth to 15 years, with majority seen between 0-2 years. Out of 514 cases, 103 had congenital abnormalities of lacrimal apparatus with 20% having nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Persistent tears were the major presenting feature. Conclusions: Nasolacrimal duct obstruction was the commonest congenital malformations of the eyes which can be easily corrected. Key words: Nasolacrimal duct, congenital malformations. Introduction he production of the tears and removal of excess tears is the function of lacrimal apparatus which consist of lacrimal glands, puncti, canaliculi, lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal duct. The tears enter the nasal cavity via nasolacrimal duct from lacrimal sac. The nasolacrimal duct develops from groove between lateral nasal prominence and maxillary prominence of developing face. The nasolacrimal duct usually canalizes at 8 months of fetal life but becomes patent only after birth. 1 Congenital obstruction of nasolacrimal duct with clinical symptoms occurs in approximately 6% of newborn infants. 1 Epiphora (watering of eye) or tearing is the most frequent symptom particularly during first year of life along with ocular discharge seen in up to 20% of all normal newborns 2 which develops within 6 weeks of birth in congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction and it is bilateral in 1/3 of cases. 3 The dacryocystography is a simple, safe and standardized diagnostic procedure which, easily and accurately defines these obstructions and is less time consuming and less annoying to the patients with practically no complications. 4 Most congenital obstructions of the nasolacrimal duct clear spontaneously or with medical management in 90% or more at about 1 year of age. 5,6 When conservative methods fail then other management plans are considered by the ophthalmologist. Materials and Methods The three year data (January 2004 to December 2007) of congenital malformations of eyes was retrospectively collected from pediatric department of Al Shifa eye hospital Rawalpindi. Only data of cases with persistent tearing or watering from eyes and discharge was further analyzed. Results During 3 years, 514 congenital malformations of eyes were seen at the pediatric department. There were 289(56.2%) males and 225(43.8%) females whose ages ranged from day 1–15 years. Majority (222) of the patients were between 0-2 years (120 males,102 females). Age distribution is shown in Table-1. T Corresponding Author: Sikander Hayat Khan Department of Anatomy Islamic International Dental College Islamabad. Email: sikander_niazi_28@yahoo.com Original Article