Tear duct surgery may be needed when there is a blockage in the tear system. Although it is a delicate operation, it is mostly painless with quick and easy recovery. Commonly the surgery treats a blocked tear duct and is only performed when other options have been unable to resolve the issue.
What are the symptoms of a blocked tear duct?
- Continually watery and irritated eye.
- Excessive tearing.
- A red tint to the white of the eye.
- Chronic eye infections, such as pink eye (conjunctivitis).
- Swelling at the inside corner of the eye with pain.
- Blurred vision from excessively watery eyes.
- Mucus buildup on the surface of the eye or on lids.
If your eye is tearing up constantly for days or if you experience a continual infection of that eye, you should come in for an exam. Some tear duct blockages can be caused by tumors, and early detection is vital.
![Tear Duct Surgery Los Angeles](/assets/img/media/tear-duct-surgery.jpg)
What can cause the need for tear duct surgery?
When a tear duct requires surgery, the causes behind it may also need to be addressed so that it doesn’t reoccur. Some possible causes are:
- It was something you were born with. In cases like this, the surgery could fully resolve the issue.
- Age. As we get older, the puncta (tear drainage) can narrow and becomes more easily clogged.
- Inflammation or infection of the tear duct system.
- Disruptive trauma near the drainage system.
- Tumors near the drainage system can push against the narrow passageways and cause a blockage.
- Chemo and radiation side effects can sometimes cause a blockage.
What is the tear duct surgery procedure?
Treating a blocked tear duct with surgery successfully has a long medical name but is a simple procedure: dacryocystorhinostomy. It opens the passageway for tears to drain once again. There are two general options:
External dacryocystorhinostomy
In this procedure, Dr. Ardesh will make a tiny incision on the side of your nose closest to the tear sac is located. He will then create a new passageway from the sac to your nasal cavity and install a stent to ensure the new route remains open. The stent will be removed in 3 to 6 months after full healing has occurred. When the stitches are closed and heal, any tiny scar that remains should be nearly invisible.
Endonasal
This is a procedure performed from within the nose structure with extremely tiny instruments. It opens a channel from your nasal chamber to your duct system. This procedure requires no outer incision but for some cases has less of a success rate as the external option.
To learn more about your rejuvenation options with Dr. Ardesh, please schedule an appointment.
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