TEAR DUCT OBSTRUCTION

 

 

DIAGNOSTIC FEATURES:   

 

Appears as a wet looking aye with tear pooling on the lover lid. Tears nay run down the face even without crying  

Often haa a secondary infection with chronic low-grads mucopurulent discharge seen in the corner of the eye towards the nose.

Secondary conjunctivitis or inflamation may be present !N!B

 

 

DISCUSSION:

 

Tear duct obstruction is a common problem in infants, Tears are  continously produced in the eye by the tear gland and continously drained from the eye through a channel that extends from two small holes located at the upper and lover lid corner towards the moss. emptying into a tear sac* which empties into the tear duct which ultimately empties into the nasal cavity.

The obstruction usually occurs at the lover end of the tear duct  which may be due to the failure of canalization of the epithelial cells that form the tear duct. An obstruction by a mass in the nasal cavity should also be ruled out.

 

Call our office IMMEDIATELY IF:

Eyelid are red and/or swollen

Localized swelling just below the eyelid towards the nose developes

 

 

TREATMENT FOR BLOCKED TEAR DUCT: 

Massage - This is performed by placing your index finger over the tear sac area and exerting pressure in a downward direction. This  maneuver would increass pressure in the lower end of the tear duct and hopefully overcome the obstruction. This maneuver may also express out some discharge trapped in the tear sac

Probing There is controversy concerning the age of probing. Some  recommend waiting to see spontaneous resolution of the obstruction, which usually Occur. up to 12-14 months. Others recommend probing as early as 4 months; others recommend
probing  after 6-9 months.