FROM a perusal of the literature, it would seem that congenital impatency of the nasolacrimal duct is a much rarer anomaly than our experience has led us to believe. In order to arrive at figures regarding the incidence of this condition and to learn the best method of treating it, the present study was undertaken.
Relatively few papers have appeared in the literature dealing with congenital impatency of the nasolacrimal duct, and almost without exception the condition has been described under the title of "congenital dacryocystitis." This term is a misnomer, since the underlying condition is not an inflammation of the lacrimal sac but, rather, an impatency of the nasolacrimal duct, the dacryocystitis occurring as a result of stasis. Another poor term appearing in the literature is congenital dacryostenosis, which implies simply a narrowing of the duct. This term should not be used, since it is not stenosis but, rather,