Buzz
If your eye is frequently watering and swollen, it could be a sign of a blocked tear duct. This occurs when the duct becomes infected or due to another more serious underlying issue. Typically, you can treat this condition through massage, but if additional treatment is needed, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics or suggest surgery to open the duct.
Steps
Diagnosing a Blocked Tear Duct
Understand the causes of watery eyes. A blocked tear duct (also known as dacryocystitis) occurs when there is an obstruction in the connection between the eye and the nose. This is common in newborns, but can also affect adults who experience infection, injury, or a tumor. Here are some common causes:
- Congenital tear duct blockage, often in newborns
- Aging-related changes
- Eye infections
- Facial injuries
- Growth of a tumor
- Ongoing cancer treatment
Recognizing Signs of Blocked Tear Ducts. The most common symptom is an increase in tear production, which spills down the face. When the tear duct is blocked, the tears become slightly thicker than usual and leave faint residue after drying. Other signs include:
- Recurrent eye infections or inflammation
- Blurred vision
- Presence of mucus or pus-like discharge on the eyelid
- Blood mixed with tears
- Fever
Consult a Doctor for Diagnosis. You need to have a healthcare professional conduct a clinical exam to diagnose a blocked tear duct. Infections are a common cause of blockages, but other serious issues, such as tumors, should not be ruled out, making it essential to see a doctor.
- To confirm a blocked tear duct, the doctor will use a dye solution to rinse your eyes. If the tears do not flow normally and you can't taste the dye at the back of your throat, this clearly indicates a blockage in the tear duct.
- The doctor may also ask you to describe your symptoms, which are crucial for ruling out other eye conditions like congenital conjunctivitis or glaucoma.
- Additional tests may include X-rays or CT scans of the tear duct area (called dacryocystogram).
Home Treatment for Tear Duct Blockage
Regularly Clean Around the Eyes. Use a clean cloth and warm water to wipe away excess tears several times a day to prevent obstructing your vision. This is particularly important if the tears are due to an infection, as failure to clean them could spread the infection to the other eye.
Use a Warm Compress to Stimulate Tear Flow. A warm compress can help expand the tear glands and make it easier for tears to flow. Press the compress over the tear duct area for three to five minutes, up to five times a day, until the blockage clears.
- To make a warm compress, you can use a cloth soaked in warm water or dip a cotton pad into warm water or chamomile tea (which has soothing properties).
- Do not use a compress that is too hot, as it may cause redness and pain.
Massage the Tear Sac. Massage is used to widen the tear duct and enhance tear flow. It is advisable to have a doctor show you how to perform this massage, or how to massage your child's tear duct to clear the blockage. To perform, place your index fingers at the inner corners of your eyes, near the sides of your nose.
- Apply gentle pressure for a few seconds, then release. Repeat this motion 3 to 5 times a day.
- Always remember to wash your hands before massaging the tear sac to avoid introducing bacteria into the eye and causing an infection.
Instill Breast Milk to Combat Bacteria. This method is especially effective for newborns as breast milk has antibacterial properties that can help fight infections in the tear duct while also lubricating the eye to reduce irritation.
- Place a few drops of breast milk on your fingertip and allow it to drip into the infected eye of your baby. You should repeat this method up to six times a day.
- As mentioned, wash your hands thoroughly before performing this to prevent transferring bacteria to your baby’s eye.
Apply Medical Treatment Measures
Use Eye Drops as an Alternative to Oral Antibiotics. For mild infections, doctors may prescribe antibiotic eye drops instead of oral antibiotics.
- To use eye drops, shake the bottle well, tilt your head back, and then drop the prescribed number of drops into your eye. Close your eye for 30 seconds to one minute to allow the medication to absorb.
- Always wash your hands before using the drops to avoid introducing bacteria into the eye. Wash your hands again after using the drops.
- For children, the procedure is similar, but it’s best to have someone help hold the child still while administering the drops.
Take Antibiotics to Fight Tear Duct Infection. If the blockage of the tear duct is due to an infection, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics for you to take. Antibiotics are substances that inhibit the growth of bacteria in a specific area of the body.
- Erythromycin is the most commonly used antibiotic for treating tear duct blockages. It prevents bacterial growth by interfering with the protein production cycle of the bacteria.
- The standard dosage for erythromycin is 250mg per pill, taken four times a day. However, the dosage may vary depending on the severity of the infection and the patient's age, so you should follow the doctor's instructions carefully.
Use a Tear Duct Probe and Cleanse. This minimally invasive procedure is performed by a doctor to clear a blocked tear duct. It involves widening the duct, inserting a probe, and rinsing it out. The process typically takes about 30 minutes under anesthesia.
- The procedure involves widening the punctum (the tiny holes in the eyelids) with a small metal dilator. Then, the doctor inserts the probe into the duct until it reaches the nose, after which they rinse the duct with a sterile solution.
- If you (or your child) require this treatment, it is important to avoid taking aspirin or ibuprofen for two weeks before the procedure to reduce the risk of bleeding.
- Be sure to inform the doctor about all medications and supplements you are currently taking before the procedure.
Consider the Dilation Method. Dilation is another minimally invasive treatment, similar to the probe and lavage method, used to clear a blockage in the tear duct. This procedure also requires anesthesia.
- For dilation, the doctor inserts a thin tube through the tear sac at the corner of the eye, guiding it to the nose. The tube is left in place for three to four months to keep the duct open and prevent further blockages.
- Although it’s difficult to detect the tube in the corner of the eye, after surgery, you must take precautions to avoid infection. Do not rub your eyes, as this can dislodge or damage the tube, and always wash your hands before touching your eyes.
Surgery is the Last Resort. Surgery is only recommended when other methods, such as dilation or probing, fail to clear the tear duct blockage. In these cases, dacryocystorhinostomy surgery is performed to completely remove the blockage.
- Dacryocystorhinostomy involves creating a new passage between the tear duct and the nose, allowing tears to drain through it.
- For laser-assisted surgery, the doctor uses a fiber-optic light and laser to cut through tissue, creating an opening in the nasal bone to connect the tear duct with the nasal cavity.
- A fistula is then placed within the duct, serving as the new tear drainage pathway.
Advice
- Most newborns experience tear sac infections (blocked tear ducts), but the condition usually improves after a few months as the tear duct system matures.
