A blocked tear duct occurs when the eye's tear drainage system is partially or completely blocked, preventing normal tear drainage. This can result in a watery, irritated eye or chronic infections. In this article, the specialists at Clínica Nivaria in Santa Cruz de Tenerife will tell you more.
What causes a blocked tear duct?
Tears are produced in the lacrimal glands, located above each eye. They flow over the surface of the eye to lubricate and protect it, and then drain through tiny openings (lacrimal puncta) in the corners of the upper and lower eyelids. From there, they travel through small channels in the eyelids (canaliculi) to a pouch located where the eyelids meet next to the nose (lacrimal sac), down a duct (the nasolacrimal duct) before emptying into the nose, where the tears either evaporate or are reabsorbed.
A baby can be born with a blocked tear duct (congenital blocked tear duct). It is estimated that nearly 20% of newborns have a blocked tear duct, but this condition usually resolves on its own within the first four to six months. In adults, a blocked tear duct can result from an eye infection, inflammation, injury, or a tumor.
Causes of a blocked tear duct
A blockage can occur at any point in the tear drainage system, causing watery eyes and increasing the risk of eye infections and inflammation.
In the womb, babies have a thin membrane that seals the nasolacrimal duct. In newborns, a blocked tear duct can result from this membrane not opening properly at birth.
Chronic nose infections and chronic sinusitis can irritate tissues and form scars that block the tear duct system.
Symptoms of a blocked tear duct
Symptoms may include watery eyes or running tears. Symptoms can worsen after a cold or sinus infection and become more noticeable after exposure to cold, wind, or sunlight.
When the tear ducts are blocked, trapped bacteria can lead to an infection (dacryocystitis), the symptoms of which include swelling and redness in the inner corner of the eye or around the eye and nose, recurring infections, discharge of eye mucus, crusty eyelashes, blurred vision, bloody tears, and fever.
Treatments for blocked tear ducts
Sometimes, multiple treatments or procedures are needed before a blocked tear duct opens completely. If an infection is suspected, one of our ophthalmologists will likely prescribe antibiotics.
For babies with congenital tear duct obstruction, the problem usually improves on its own within the first few months of life. In some cases, your ophthalmologist may recommend a special massage technique to help open the membrane.
In cases of tear duct obstruction following a facial injury, the drainage system usually begins to function again on its own a few months after the injury, and no further treatment is required. In infants, young children, and adults with partial blockages, dilation, probing, and irrigation techniques may be used.
Balloon catheter dilation and intubation procedures are options for opening narrowed or blocked tear drainage passages. Surgery is generally the preferred option for people with blocked tear ducts and is also effective in infants and young children with congenital obstructions.
