Effects of Blocked Tear Ducts

When you have blocked tear ducts, your tears are not able to drain normally, leaving your eyes watery and irritated. This condition is caused by an obstruction within the tear drainage system, and is almost always correctable.

What Causes Watery Eyes?

Tears are naturally created by the lacrimal gland to lubricate the eyeball. When you blink, these tears are spread over the surface to keep it moist and healthy while excess lubrication is emptied into the tear duct and drained into your nose. With blocked tear ducts, your tears back up and spill over your eyelids as if you are crying. Over time, the constant overflow can cause a mucous discharge, eye irritation and painful swelling in the corners of the eye. Blockage can also cause an infection within the duct itself. You can read a complete clinical overview of nasolacrimal drainage complications and blockages on the American Academy of Ophthalmology health library.

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Blocked Tear Ducts Treatment

There are several treatment options available, and the right one will depend on a careful analysis of your symptoms. By performing an in-office tear duct irrigation procedure, your surgeon will determine the exact degree of blockage. In mild cases, applying warm compresses and antibiotics will relieve the obstruction; however, specialized surgical intervention remains the most definitive option.

A highly effective, common surgical solution is a dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) surgery, in which a small incision is made on the side of the nose and a tiny portion of bone is removed to create an entirely new drainage channel. Stents are typically left behind to keep the newly formed pathway clear during recovery and are removed after a few months.

Choosing the Right Stent for Your Anatomy

During the procedure, your surgeon will select the most effective medical hardware to ensure long-term success. For standard structural obstructions, a flexible silicone Crawford Tube Tear Duct implant is gently threaded through the system to prevent the newly created channel from narrowing during healing. In more complex cases where the natural canaliculi (the microscopic entry ducts) are completely non-functional or closed, a specialized glass Jones Tube Placement Eye procedure is performed instead, creating a permanent bypass directly from the corner of the eye into the nasal cavity.

You can explore a detailed walkthrough of what to expect during recovery and long-term care guidelines on the Cleveland Clinic medical library.

Things to Consider

Preparing for Blocked Tear Duct Treatment

Rest assured that your surgical team will do everything possible to ensure that your recovery and procedure are as comfortable and seamless as possible.

If you are undergoing anesthesia for dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) surgery, a Crawford tube tear duct procedure, or a Jones tube placement eye intervention, do not eat or drink anything starting at midnight the night before your appointment unless explicitly instructed otherwise. The exception to this rule is that you may take your essential morning medications with a tiny sip of water. If you manage diabetes or high blood pressure, your surgeon or primary care physician will advise you if any modification to your usual morning dosage is necessary prior to your tear duct irrigation procedure or surgical block.

Recovery From Blocked Tear Ducts

A DCR is normally performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia with sedation. Recovery time is about one week for all bruising and swelling to subside. There is minimal discomfort.

Blocked Tear Ducts