Medical management of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

One hundred thirteen consecutive children seen with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction were treated with local massage and topical antibiotic ointment. The obstruction was resolved in 107 patients within eight months of initiation of this form of management. Nearly all of the children were spared a surgical procedure that probably would have been performed if early probing of the nasolacrimal system had been advocated.