Tear duct blockage: symptoms, medications, etc. • hello healthy

Definition

What is a tear duct blockage?

Tear duct blockage occurs when the drainage system for tears is either partially or completely blocked. As a result, tears cannot dry up normally, which can lead to watery, irritated, or chronically infected eyes.

This condition is almost always treatable. Treatment depends on the cause of the blockage and the patient's age.

How common is this condition?

Blockage of the eye duct is quite common in newborns. In adults, this condition can come from infection, inflammation, injury, or an eye tumor.

This can be overcome by reducing your risk factors. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Characteristics and symptoms

What are the features and symptoms of blocked tear ducts?

Symptoms of a blocked tear duct are:

Excessive tears
Redness on the whites of the eyes
Painful swelling near the inner corner of the eye
Hardening of the eyelids
Mucous discharge
Blurred vision

When the tear duct becomes blocked, bacteria trapped in the nasolacrimal sac can cause infection. Symptoms of the infection include:

Inflammation (swelling), pain and redness at the inner corner of the eye or around the eye and nose
The discharge of the eye mucus
Crusts appear on the lashes
Blurred vision
Tears with blood stains
Fever

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about certain symptoms, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

You should call your doctor if you experience any of the following:

The eyes continued to water for days
The eye is infected and doesn't heal or recurs back and forth

Cause

What causes blockage of the tear ducts?

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, blockage of the tear ducts can be caused by:

Congenital blockage. In newborns, blocked tear ducts may be caused by membranes not opening as they should at birth.
Age related changes. In the elderly, the small openings that drain the tears (puncta) can narrow, causing blockages.
Infection or inflammation. Chronic infection or inflammation of the eye, tear-draining system, or nose can cause the tear ducts to become blocked. Chronic sinusitis can irritate the tissues and form sores, which eventually clog the tear duct system.
Trauma. Trauma or injury to the nose, for example a fracture of the nose, can block the tear ducts.
Tumor can suppress the tear duct system and prevent drying.
Chemotherapy drugs and radiation treatment for cancer. Cancer treatments can cause this condition, as a possible side effect.

Triggers

What factors increase my risk of developing blocked tear ducts?

There are many risk factors for blockage of the tear ducts, such as:

Age and gender: women are most at high risk of developing this condition because of age-related changes.
Chronic inflammation of the eye. If your eyes are constantly irritated, red, and inflamed, you are more likely to develop this condition.
Operation history, such as in the eyes, eyelids, nose or sinuses.
Glaucoma. If you have used anti-glaucoma medications, you are at an increased risk of developing blocked tear ducts.
Have cancer and undergo chemotherapy. If you have been through radiation therapy or chemotherapy to treat cancer, especially if the radiation focuses on your face or head, you are at high risk of developing blocked tear ducts.

Diagnosis

How is this condition diagnosed?

To diagnose a blocked tear duct, your doctor will ask about your symptoms, examine your eyes to see if there are other possible causes, and perform a number of tests.

The following tests can be used to diagnose blocked tear ducts:

Tear-drying test. This test measures how quickly your tears dry up.
Watering and probing. The doctor can pour a saline solution through the tear flow system to check how quickly the solution is drying.
Eye imaging test such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI. This procedure is applied to check the location and cause of the blockage.

Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor for more information.

What are the treatments for blocked tear ducts?

Treatment depends on the cause of the blockage of the tear ducts. Sometimes, more than one treatment is required in a blocked tear duct. These treatments include:

Antibiotics. If your doctor suspects an infection, he or she will likely prescribe antibiotic eye drops or pills.
Massage the tear glands. To help open up the baby's tear ducts, ask the doctor to show you how to massage the tear glands. Basically, you can apply gentle pressure between the glands on the side of the upper nose to try to smooth them out.
Waiting for the injury to heal. If you have a fatal injury that causes the tear duct to become blocked, your doctor may recommend that you wait a few months to see if your condition improves as your injury heals.
Dilation, probing and flushing. For infants and toddlers whose tear duct obstruction does not open on its own, or for adults who have partially blocked tear ducts, dilating, probing, and exposing techniques may be used.
Balloon catheter dilatation. If other treatments have not been successful or the blockage recurs, this procedure can be used. It is usually effective for babies and toddlers, and can also be used in adults with partial blockage.
Insertion of a stent or intubation. This procedure is usually used using general anesthesia.
Operation which is used to treat blocked tear ducts is called a dacryocystorhinostomy. This procedure opens the way for the tears to flow back up through the nose.