Journal of AAPOS : the official publication of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
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Nasolacrimal duct obstruction occurs in 5% to 6% of neonates. Many studies advocate the probing of nasolacrimal duct obstruction under general inhalational anesthesia in patients at a late age (12 to 13 months) because a high percentage will resolve spontaneously. Others support early surgical intervention in patients aged younger than 6 to 9 months without anesthesia. We present late nasolacrimal duct probing under intravenous propofol sedation as an alternative approach to the treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction with a decrease in cost and time compared with probing under general inhalational anesthesia. ⋯ Late probing for nasolacrimal duct obstruction under intravenous propofol sedation is comparable in efficacy to late probing under general inhalational anesthesia with a shorter time for the procedure and decreased expense.