Blocked Tear Duct Surgery

Nasolacrimal duct obstruction occurs when your tear duct becomes blocked. The tear duct is the path that your tears drain from the eyes into the nose. When the duct is blocked, it can cause the eye to become watery and irritated. It can also become infected and sometimes result in a hard, painful, red bump or abscess. This is called dacryocystitis. In cases when a blocked tear duct requires surgery, Dr. Christina Choe may perform dacryocystorhinostomy, or DCR, surgery to correct the blockage.

What Causes a Blocked Tear Duct?

A blocked tear duct most commonly occurs due to age, but injury, tear duct stones, rheumatologic conditions, and infection can also be the causes. Treatment may vary slightly, depending on the origin of the obstruction. One highly effective solution for a blocked tear duct is DCR surgery.

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What Is DCR Surgery?

The surgery to correct a blocked tear duct is called dacryocystorhinostomy, or DCR. This surgery 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. The DCR procedure creates a new pathway for tears to flow out of the eye bypassing the blocked tear drainage system. Once your tears flow properly again, you should notice an improvement in related symptoms.

What Does the Procedure Involve?

The traditional way to perform DCR surgery is by making a small incision near the inside corner of the eye. However, Dr. Choe prefers to perform this surgery endoscopically when possible. This means she uses a camera and works through the nose to open the tear duct. The benefit of this approach is you will not have a visible scar, swelling, or bruising. Most patients leave surgery and look like they have had nothing done.

To perform the surgery, a new opening will be created directly from the tear duct into the nasal cavity to allow tears to drain. This requires removing tissue and a little bone in the area. A tube like stent will be placed to keep the new drain from closing up while healing. This tube is typically removed a few months after surgery once the area has healed.

Is There a Recovery Period?

Whenever possible, Dr. Choe uses a minimally invasive approach, which cuts down on recovery time. She also likes to see patients for follow-up appointments to ensure their healing is progressing smoothly. Patients can go home the same day as their surgery, but you will need to follow your post-procedure instructions closely. These typically include taking steps to care for your eyes and the surgical sites. These steps may involve:

Taking medication (antibiotics)
Rinsing the nasal cavity
Avoiding strenuous activity

Schedule Your Consultation

If you have noticed issues with excessive tearing, we encourage you to schedule a consultation and evaluation with Dr. Choe. She can confirm the cause of your tearing and put together a plan for treating your blocked tear duct. Learn about your treatment options and if DCR surgery is right for you.