What is a probing procedure? When and how is it done?
If babies don’t clear up by around one year of age, we recommend probing to open it up. The probing procedure is done at an outpatient surgery center, because the baby will require a brief anesthetic given by an anesthesiologist (MD) to allow the probing. A soft metal wire about the size of an earring wire is gently threaded through the duct from the eyelid to open the duct where it is blocked at the bottom. Most babies will clear with doing this procedure. Occasionally the duct will close back up and it is necessary to do further procedures such as placing silicone tubes to hold the duct open for a time, so that it won’t close back up again.
