If your eye is watery and inflamed, you may have a blocked tear duct. This disorder occurs as a result of an infection or something more serious, such as a tumor. A blocked tear duct can usually be treated with massage, but if that's not enough, your doctor can prescribe antibiotics or recommend surgery to fix the problem.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Diagnosis
Step 1. Know the causes
A blocked tear duct (also known as dacryostenosis) occurs when there is an obstacle in the passage that connects the eyes to the nose. It is more common in infants, but it can also occur in adults due to infection, injury, or cancer. The most common causes are listed below:
- Congenital block, often present in newborns
- Age-related changes
- Infections of the eye
- Trauma to the face
- Tumors
- Cancer treatments
Step 2. Recognize the symptoms
The most common symptom is increased tearing of the eye. These tears can flood your face. When you suffer from this problem, the tears tend to be a little thicker than normal and crust as they dry. Other symptoms include:
- Recurrent inflammation of the eye
- Blurred vision
- Mucus or purulent fluid coming out of the eyelids
- Presence of blood in tears
- Fever
Step 3. See your doctor for a diagnosis
You need to see your doctor to diagnose the problem correctly. The cause of the blockage could be simple inflammation, but it could also be a tumor or another serious condition, so it's important that your doctor can see you.
- To check if it is really an obstruction, the doctor will have to rinse the eye with a colored liquid (fluorescein). If the tears are not flowing normally and you cannot feel the liquid running down the back of your throat, it is a good indication that there is a blockage in the tear ducts.
- Other tests may include x-rays or a CT scan of the tear duct area (dacryocystography).
- Your doctor will ask you to describe your symptoms, which are of great clinical value, as they can help rule out other eye conditions such as congenital conjunctivitis and glaucoma.
Part 2 of 3: Unblocking the Lacrimal Duct with Home Remedies
Step 1. Clean the area often
Use a clean washcloth and warm water to wash eye secretions several times a day so as not to interfere with your vision. This is especially important if the leaking fluid is caused by an infection that could spread to the other eye.
Step 2. Apply a warm compress to promote drainage
This could clear the obstruction and facilitate the elimination of the liquid. Press it against the top of the tear duct for 3-5 minutes, up to five times a day, until the block is released.
- To make a warm compress, you can use a moist warm towel or soak a cotton ball in warm water or chamomile tea (which has soothing properties).
- Make sure it's not too hot, otherwise it could cause redness and pain.
Step 3. Try massaging the tear sac to unblock the duct
It can be a way to open the passage and promote drainage. Your doctor can show you how to perform the massage on yourself or your baby. Place your index fingers on the inner corners of the eyes, near the sides of the nose.
- Apply firm pressure to these spots for a few seconds, then release. Repeat 3 to 5 times a day.
- Always remember to wash your hands before performing a tear sac massage to avoid introducing bacteria into your eyes and causing an infection.
Step 4. Put breast milk in your eyes to kill bacteria
This method is effective for children with blocked tear ducts. Breast milk contains antimicrobial properties that help fight infections while lubricating the eyes while minimizing irritation.
- Put a few drops of breast milk on your index finger and drip it into the affected eye of the baby. You can repeat the treatment up to six times a day.
- Again, it is very important to wash your hands thoroughly before doing this to avoid introducing bacteria into the baby's eyes.
Part 3 of 3: Undergo Medical Treatment
Step 1. Use antibiotic eye drops or ointment
If the infection is less severe, antibiotics in eye drops are sometimes prescribed to replace oral antibiotics.
- To put the eye drops, shake the bottle well, tilt your head back and insert the recommended amount into the eye. Close your eye for 30 seconds or a minute to allow the drops to be absorbed.
- Always wash your hands before putting on the drops, to avoid introducing bacteria into the eye, and wash them again after applying the drops.
- For children, the instructions are the same, but assistance from another adult will be required to prevent the child from moving.
Step 2. Take oral antibiotics to fight tear duct infections
Your doctor may prescribe these medications to clear the blocked tear duct if the cause is an infection. Antibiotics are capable of inhibiting bacterial growth in a certain area of the body.
- Erythromycin is the most suitable drug for this problem. It prevents bacteria from growing and multiplying by interfering with the bacteria's protein production cycle.
- Typical dosage is one 250 mg tablet four times a day. However, it can vary based on the severity of the infection and the age of the patient, so follow your doctor's directions.
Step 3. Undergo probing and irrigation of the blocked tear duct
Partially invasive treatment may be performed to free a blocked tear duct which consists of dilating, probing, and irrigating the duct. This procedure is done under general anesthesia and takes about 30 minutes.
- The procedure involves dilating the tear points (the two small holes in the eyelid) using a small metal tool. After that, a probe is inserted into the passageway until it reaches the nose. When it reaches the nose the passage is irrigated with a sterile liquid.
- If you or your child are undergoing this treatment, you should avoid taking aspirin or ibuprofen in the two weeks before surgery, as they may cause bleeding.
- Discuss with your doctor what medications and supplements you are using before the procedure.
Step 4. Consider undergoing intubation treatment
This is another minimally invasive procedure. Similar to probing and irrigation, its purpose is to open the tear duct blockage. The patient undergoes general anesthesia to make him sleep.
- During the procedure, a thin tube is inserted through the tear sac at the corners of the eyes until it reaches the nose. The tube is left in the duct for three to four months to allow the tear duct to drain and avoid continued blockages.
- The tube is barely noticeable, but some precautions must be taken after surgery to prevent an infection. You must avoid rubbing your eyes to avoid moving or damaging the tube and you should wash your hands before touching your eyes.
Step 5. Undergo surgery as a last resort
Surgery is the last treatment option. When the tear duct cannot be unblocked with any of the methods described above, it must be removed entirely with a procedure known as a dacryocystorhinostomy.
- The surgery involves creating a bypass communication between the tear duct and the nose, which allows the tears to drain normally.
- During the laser dacryocystorhinostomy, an endoscope equipped with a laser is inserted that can cut through the tissue. The laser will create a hole in the bone of the nose so that the tear duct and nasal cavity are connected.
- A fistula is then inserted into the duct, which acts as a passageway for the tears.
