Spontaneous closure of a congenital lacrimal fistula

A congenital external lacrimal fistula appears as a small aperture inferonasal to the inner canthus, exuding clear fluid. It is thought to arise from an accessory duct connected to the lacrimal sac. Various operations have been described for ablation of congenital lacrimal fistula, but no prior study has documented spontaneous closure. We describe a child whose congenital lacrimal fistula resolved after 5 years of observation, obviating the need for a surgical procedure.