The authors evaluate the effectiveness of probing and rinsing of the lacrimal system in a group of 155 infants and young children (300 eyes) with congenital obstruction of the lacrimal pathways. The mean age during the first treatment was 3.7 months - range 21 days to 24 months. Patency of the lacrimal pathways was achieved in 83.49% of the group. In children treated before the 6th month the passage was restored in 91.30%. The effectiveness of procedures declines with advancing age. In the author´s opinion it is best to make the operation between the 4th and 6th month of age. The operation under local anaesthesia ensures in the majority of children a rapid and permanent regression of complaints and a relatively small number of required repeated probings. At a later age the effectiveness of probes or rinsing declines and the solution is rather an indication for intubation of the lacrimal pathways or DCRS. One of the main still open questions for discussion is the optimal age for the operation. The author discusses also views of adverseries of probing and the problem of spontaneous canalization of the lacrimal pathways.

        Key words: epiphora, probing and rinsing of lacrimal pathways, spontaneous canalization