What does it mean when your tear duct is blocked?
A blocked tear duct (nasolacrimal duct) is a condition in which the tear drainage pathway in the eye is partially or completely blocked, leading to difficulty in draining tears from the lacrimal glands.
What causes redness and swelling in the tear ducts?
Swelling around the eye and eye redness may also be the result of an injury to the eye that may or may not affect the tear ducts. If the blocked tear duct is the result of a bacterial infection, you may also have a fever along with those other symptoms.
How is DCR used for blocked tear ducts?
They rarely use it in children. DCR creates a new route for tears to drain from the eye. Sometimes the new opening totally bypasses the tear drainage system and lets tears flow straight into the nose. Doctors can do DCR while you are asleep or awake. The surgery can be done in one of two ways: External.
Can a broken nose cause a blocked tear duct?
An injury or trauma to the eye can also lead to a blocked tear duct. The trauma could be as minor as getting some dirt or other foreign particles in your eye, or as serious as a blow to the head that injures the eye or eye socket. A broken nose can affect the tear ducts, too.
How do I know if I have blocked tear ducts?
There are a few indications that you may be suffering from a blocked tear duct. If you have excessive tearing or there is a mucus or pus discharge from the eye, if the white part of your eye is red and swollen, or if your vision is blurred, a blocked tear duct may be the culprit.
How can you treat a blocked tear duct?
Treating a blocked tear duct Balloon catheter dilation. Your doctor guides a very thin catheter through the blockage in the tear duct, starting from the nose. Stenting or intubation. Your doctor threads a thin tube through the puncta and throughout the tear drainage system to the nose. Surgery. The surgical procedure is called dacryocystorhinostomy.
What does a blocked tear duct feel like?
The blocked tear duct is susceptible to infection. Therefore, you may experience recurrent eye infection and inflammation, blurred vision and discharge of eye mucus. Apart from these symptoms, you may also feel pain and swelling at the corner of your eye if you suffer from clogged tear ducts.
What can you do about blocked tear ducts?
Massage is one of the most commonly recommended treatments for blocked tear ducts. After thoroughly cleaning your hands, gently massage the space between the inner corner of the eye and the bridge of the nose, rubbing toward the nose.