When you have a blocked tear duct, you may experience symptoms such as watery eyes, inflammation, eye swelling, pain, blurry vision, redness or eye discharge that crusts the eyes. Blockages prevent tears from naturally draining from the eyes throughout the day. Left untreated, your eyes will become more prone to infection.
Dacryocystorhinostomy is the medical term for tear duct surgery of the nasolacrimal duct. While surgery is not always necessary for blocked tear ducts, dacryocystorhinostomy may be recommended for adults when other methods of treatment have proved unsuccessful. This procedure involves creating a new outlet for your tears to drain out via the nose by surgically inserting a temporary tube (stent). The surgery can be performed by making a small surgical incision on the side of your nose or endoscopically through your nose to avoid scarring. The stent allows for a new connection to be made between the nose and part of the nasolacrimal duct (the lacrimal sac).
The tube may remain in your nose for 3-4 months or longer. Side effects and potential complications may include infection, inflammation, scarring, bruises or a stuffy nose.
If you are experiencing discomfort or pain in your eyes, contact us today to schedule an eye exam. We will diagnose the root cause of your problems so we can recommend the proper treatment for relief.
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