AIM: To compare the therapeutic effect of lacrimal probing through upper and lower lacrimal punctum in neonatal dacryocystitis.

METHODS: Totally, 262 cases(286 eyes)of neonatal dacryocystitis which failed in a two-week conservative treatment were selected from January 2006 to January 2013 in our outpatient department. They were randomly divided into Group A and Group B. Then, 133 cases(149 eyes)in Group A received lacrimal probing through upper lacrimal punctum, and 129 cases(137 eyes)in Group B received lacrimal probing through lower lacrimal punctum. The patients were followed up for one month and therapeutic effect and incidence of complications of the two methods were compared.

RESULTS: The cure rate of was 98.7% in Group A and 93.4% in Group B. The incidence of the complications in Group A was lower than that of Group B. The differences between the two groups were significant(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Lacrimal probing through upper lacrimal punctum in neonatal dacryocystitis is more effective than probing through lower lacrimal punctum,and it has a lower incidence of complications including lacrimal tear, false passage and secondary adhesion.