How to get rid of a
Blocked Tear Duct
Opening blocked tear ducts: Oculoplastics External DCR
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your ophthalmologist has recommended
surgery to treat a blocked tear duct
near your eye the procedure called
external Doc Rios isto Rhino STEMI or
external DCR will allow tears to drain
properly again from your eye into your
nose this helps stop the excessive
tearing discharge and eye irritation
that comes with a blocked tear duct
let's take a look at what happens when
your tear duct is blocked tears protect
the eyes and keep them moist and healthy
tears come from the conjunctival which
is the clear tissue over the white of
the eye and from the lacrimal glands
these glands are located above each eye
the tears flow across the surface of
your eye and drain through tiny holes
called puncta puncta are in the corners
of your upper and lower eyelids near the
nose the tears then travel through tiny
passages and the eyelids they eventually
go into the nasolacrimal duct before
emptying into your nose this is why your
nose runs when you cry when the tear
drainage system is either partly or
completely blocked tears cannot drain
normally the eye becomes watery and
irritated it can also be constantly
infected a blocked tear duct can be due
to age injury or infection the DCR
procedure creates a new pathway for
tears to flow out of the eye bypassing
the blocked tear drainage system
DCR surgery is an outpatient procedure
it's performed on our local anesthesia
with sedatives to numb the area and
relax you or you may have general
anesthesia so that you're in a very deep
sleep your surgeon can explain which
anesthesia option is recommended for you
external doc Rios isto Rhino steaming or
DCR is surgery that creates a new
pathway for tears to drain from the eye
when the tear duct is blocked the
surgeon will make a small incision near
the inside corner of the eye he or she
will then create a new opening directly
from the eyes lacrimal sac into the
nasal cavity to allow tears to drain a
surgical adhesive or stitches are used
to close the incision and a tube like
stent
may be used temporarily to keep the new
drain from closing up while healing the
tube can be removed later in the
surgeon's office or outpatient surgery
center as with any surgery there are
possible risks with external DC our
external DC are risks can include
bleeding infection scarring failure of
the new drainage channel to stay open
requiring additional surgery temporary
problems blinking and closing the eye
and anesthesia related complications if
your tear duct is completely blocked the
only other treatment option is a similar
surgery that goes in through the nose
rather than outside of it if your tear
duct is only partly blocked there may be
alternatives to DC are other options may
include placing a surgical balloon or
tubes in the duct to enlarge it and keep
it open your ophthalmologist can explain
why he or she chose external DC R to
treat your blocked tear duct you do not
have to be treated for your blocked tear
duct however if it is left untreated you
will continue to have tearing discharge
from the eye and irritation you also
risk developing a serious infection that
could lead to vision loss surgery can
prevent these problems if you have any
questions or concerns about DC our ask
your ophthalmologist he or she will be
happy to help you understand the risks
and benefits of this procedure also if
you have any questions or concerns about
your eyes or your vision in general
don't hesitate to bring them up your
ophthalmologist is committed to
protecting your sight
