| name: | Blocked Tear Duct |
| also known as: | Tear Duct Blockage; Dacryostenosis; Blocked Nasolacrimal Duct |
| also see: | Tear Duct Infection; Uveitis; Keratitis; Pinkeye; Neonatal Pinkeye |
| description: | The tear duct begins as a small punctum (opening) on the eyelid margin near the nose and drains into the nose through the duct. A dacryostenosis is a blockage of the duct, also called the nasolacrimal duct. A dacryostenosis can be either a narrowing of the duct or a complete blockage, either by injury, tear duct infection, or congenital. Another way of looking at blocked tear duct is either congenital (born with it) or acquired (from eye injury, nose injury, eye infection such as pinkeye, nose infection, and nasal polyps). Congenital blocked nasolacrimal duct usually presents 1-3 months after birth as persistent tearing (epiphora = tearing onto the cheek because the duct is blocked) which needs to be distinguished from neonatal pinkeye. |
| signs & symptoms: | Includes persistent tearing of the involved eye called epiphora, pain, redness, swelling, tenderness, discharge. |
| diagnosis: | Based on signs, symptoms, history and exam, as well as an occasional need for a culture. |
| treatment: | Congenital blocked tear duct in an infant usually resolves on its own after 4-8 months and signs of infection are treated with topical antibiotics. Failure to resolve might require a general anesthesia and probing and dilating the duct. Acquired blocked tear duct. Acquired blocked tear duct in an adult is treated with a local anesthetic and irrigating , or probing and ballooning the nasolacrimal duct. If this does not resolve the block, other surgical techniques might be necessary, such as placement of temporary stents, or permanently connecting the lacrimal sac to the inside of the nose, a procedure that goes by various names such as dacryocystorhinostomy. |
| prevention: | None. |
| outcome: | Infections of the tear duct are treated with antibiotics which affords a cure. Anatomic obstructions can be improved with balloon dilation or with surgery. Untreated obstructions can lead to infection which can then involve the eye. |
skynetMD suggests the following:
| if: | If the person has symptoms suggestive of a tear duct infection, such as pouting of the tear duct opening (the punctum), redness, warmth, swelling, tenderness, discharge, fever, or, if it appears the infection is spreading to involve the eyeball, or, if the is a change in vision |
| go to: | Go to the doctor. |
| if: | If the person has a blocked tear duct, such as constant tears dripping onto the face, with or without signs of infection |
| go to: | Go to the doctor. |
| if: | If the person has a tear duct infection, and is under the care of a doctor, they should also use warm compresses periodically through out the day, and |
| go to: | Go to the pharmacy for acetaminophen, aspirin (if older than 19 years), ibuprofen or naproxen, as well as liquid tears or artificial tears to help keep clean the tear duct punctum area. |
Last updated 7/11/2009