AIM: To observe the application effect of tobramycin eye drops combined with irrigation and probing of lacrimal passage in the treatment of infant dacryocystitis.

METHODS: Totally 158 infants(174 eyes)with dacryocystitis treated in the hospital between January 2018 and December 2019 were enrolled. They were randomly divided into observation group(79 cases, 85 eyes)and control group(79 cases, 89 eyes)according to the order of treatment. The observation group was treated with tobramycin eye drops combined with irrigation and probing of lacrimal passage, while the control group was treated with irrigation and probing of lacrimal passage alone. The therapeutic effects of two groups were evaluated. The number of successful probing, incidences of complications, changes in inflammatory factors \〖interleukin 6(IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP)\〗 before and after treatment and satisfaction of family members were compared between two groups.

RESULTS: The total response rate and the success rate of one-time probing in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group(91.8% vs 76.4%, 94.1% vs 80.9%, P<0.05). After treatment, the observation group had significantly lower levels of IL-6, TNF-α and hs-CRP than the control group(P<0.05). The incidence rate of complications in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group(4.7% vs 14.6%, P<0.05). Family members of the observation group had significantly higher satisfaction than those of the control group(96.2% vs 82.3%, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Tobramycin eye drops combined with irrigation and probing of lacrimal passage can effectively strengthen the curative effect on infant dacryocystitis, improve the success rate of one-time treatment, control local infectious inflammation, and reduce the incidence of postoperative complications. Besides, family members are highly satisfied.