Tear Duct Blockage

The tear fluid that moisturizes the eye travels through small canals in the inner part of the eye towards the nose. The disease occurs as a result of blockage of this duct, mostly in the lower part of the tear sac.

Tear duct obstruction is most common in infants in their first year of life, in women in middle age and later, in individuals with a curved nasal structure and as a result of prolonged nasal infections and allergies. Since tears cannot pass into the nose, they flow from the eyelid to the cheek. Tear duct obstruction also causes frequent infections in the eye.

Symptoms of tear duct blockage

 Excessive watering

 Frequent bursting in the eye

 Inflammation in the eye by pressing the root of the nose

 Swelling at the root of the nose

Treatment of Tear Duct Obstruction In Infants

Massage is applied for the first 1 year. The massage is applied by pressing on the tear sac at the root of the nose. This massage should be done 3-4 times a day for 5 minutes. The possibility of spontaneous opening of the canal with massage is around 95%. If there are frequent infections in children, probing should be done without waiting from the sixth month onwards. Antibiotic eye drops are used when there is burring in the eye. If the tearing does not disappear at the end of the 1st year, it means that the canal has not opened spontaneously. Then a probing procedure is performed. If the tearing does not go away after the first probing, silicone tube intubation is performed. The tube is removed in outpatient clinics after 2 months. If treatment is delayed in children, the success rate decreases. If the tearing does not go away even with probing, this time the age of 3 years is waited and surgery called "dacryocystorhinostomy" is performed.

Treatment of Tear Duct Obstruction In Adults

Dacryocystorhinostomy (Open Surgery = DSR)

Under local or general anesthesia, an incision of about 1 cm is made in the root of the nose. A small bone window is opened in the nasal bone, a direct passage from the tear sac to the nasal cavity is created. In some cases, a silicone tube can be passed through the punctum. The incision in the skin is closed with sutures and the procedure is terminated. The gold standard canal surgery all over the world is DSR surgery. If done properly, there is no scar on the skin.

Complications of Dacryocystorhinostomy Surgery

 Wound Site Infections

 Re-clogging of the Canal (120%)

Treatment

 Anesthesia: Local or General Anesthesia,

 Duration: 45 Minutes

 Bandage: A thin bandage is placed over the incision site.

 After Surgery: There may be swelling around the eyes.

 Stitches: Removed after 7 days.

 Controls: The Day After Surgery, After 7 Days, After 1 Month, After 3 Months

 Eye Drops and Pomade: Antibiotic Pomade on the stitches for 1 week, Antibiotic Drops in the eye.