The exact cause for the excessive tearing can sometimes be difficult to uncover. This problem can occur if there is an overproduction of tears, decreased drainage of tears, or a combination of the two.
Overproduction of tears may be related to several ocular conditions that will signal your tear gland (lacrimal gland) to produce extra tears. Causes include:
The aforementioned conditions can be treated with artificial tears, allergy drops, anti-inflammatory drops, antibiotic drops or ointments, and oral medications.
Each eyelid has two small openings (puncta), one on the upper lid and one on the lower lid, that lead into a drainage system which will empty into a sac (lacrimal sac), that ultimately passes through a duct (Nasolacrimal duct) into the nose. Anatomic variations at any point along this passageway can cause excess tearing. In addition to tearing, a blockage along the drainage system can cause recurrent infections. Symptoms of these infections include warmth and redness in the area in between the eye and nose, purulent discharge, and a pink irritated eye.
Blockage of the tear drainage system can be confirmed in the office by performing a small non-invasive test in the office where a salt solution is irrigated through the tear drain. Depending on the results, corrective options can be discussed. Options to improve drainage may be as simple as starting a regimen of steroid drops, but in certain cases, surgery may be the best option.
Punctoplasty: This is an in-office procedure performed under local anesthesia where the small openings of the tear drain (puncta), are dilated with a small instrument, and snipped open with very fine specialized equipment. Afterward, a patient may experience minimal swelling, but normal activity can be resumed almost immediately.
Probe and Tube: This is a roughly 15 minute procedure performed in the operating room under general anesthesia. The procedure involves inserting a small, flexible, temporary tube into the tear duct. The tube functions to dilate any narrowed area along the drainage system. The tube stays in place for approximately 3 months and is painlessly removed in the office. While the tube is in place, tearing is still expected but should improve upon removal of the tube. No incision or stitches are required and recovery is fairly simple. Normal activity is resumed the following day. The procedure proves useful in cases of partial tear duct obstructions.
Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR): This is a slightly more involved procedure done in the operating room under general anesthesia, taking about 1 hour to perform. An approximately 1 inch external incision is created in the area in between the eye and nose. The tear sac is identified and opened directly into the nose, through a small passage via the nasal bone. This opening effectively bypasses blockages of the nasolacrimal duct. A temporary tube is placed to keep the passage open. Our specialists will remove the external stitches in 1 week, and patients may expect a very thin scar that, in most cases, fades after several months. This surgery is useful for complete tear duct blockages that result in severe tearing and, oftentimes, recurrent infections.
Conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy (CDCR): This is a variation of the DCR procedure described above. It involves placing a pyrex glass tube (Jones tube) into the corner of the eye socket that empties directly into the nose. CDCR is typically used in patients who had a previous DCR procedure that either didn’t resolve the blockage or has closed up again over time.
After a thorough evaluation with one of our oculoplastic specialists, our team can initiate an appropriate treatment plan.
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