AIM: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of balloon dilatation in infants with lacrimal passage obstruction.

METHODS: Totally 86 patients(116 eyes)with lacrimal duct obstruction from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016 were randomly divided into two groups according to the digital table. The observation group(43 cases, 60 eyes)were operated with balloon dilatation and the control group(43 cases, 56 eyes)were treated with duct exploratory operation. The patients were followed up for 6mo to compare the efficacy.

RESULTS: At the 6mo postoperatively, the primary cure rate and total cure rate in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group. There was significant difference between the two groups(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Balloon dilatation operation is safe, and its clinical efficacy is better than lacrimal duct exploratory operation, is an effective way to treat lacrimal duct obstruction in infants.