Probing of Tear Duct

When does my child need a tear duct opening (probe)?

If the symptoms of a blocked tear duct do not improve with conservative treatment, an eye doctor may recommend a tear duct opening (probe) procedure.

This procedure aims to open the blockage and restore normal tear drainage.

It is characterized by being:

• A simple procedure.
• Performed under general anesthesia in children.
• Quick to perform.
• Achieving high success rates when the right case and timing are chosen.

Timing and evaluation are the key to success

The age between 9 months to 18 months is considered the golden time for performing a tear duct opening (probe), especially in cases where the blockage is simple and without recurrent inflammation.

At this stage, the success rate is higher, and the procedure is more effective and less complicated.

However, the final decision remains based on the eye doctor's evaluation of the case, not just the age, as each case is different from another.

Although a tear duct opening (probe) is successful in most cases, some children may need additional treatment methods to achieve the best results.