A 39-year-old member asked:
What can i do to fix a blocked tear duct?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. James Fergusonanswered
Pediatrics 47 years experience
Probe duct: A ophthalmologist can thread a wire down the duct & push out an obstruction.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 48-year-old member asked:
I have a chronically blocked tear duct?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Reid Blackwelderanswered
Family Medicine 38 years experience
Often needs surgery: The tear duct is in the corner of the bottom eyelid near the nose and drains tears into the nose. It can be blocked at birth creating watering eyes with discharge, or occur later from other causes. Sometimes that needs surgery to open.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
What can be done for a blocked tear duct!?
3 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in
Dr. Kerry Huntanswered
Ophthalmology 36 years experience
Drops or surgery: In infants it will sometimes resolve spontaneously. In adults it may resolve with antibiotic drops but may require an office procedure like flushing the duct or may require a surgical procedure called a dacryocystorhinostomy ( dcr). A true duct obstruction in an adult will not go away spontaneously and can lead to a serious infection of the soft tissues around the eye that can spread to the brain.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
How do I clean out a blocked tear duct?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Richard Bensingeranswered
Ophthalmology 53 years experience
Depends: If in a child you can keep it clean and use massage against the nose to help it open. If in an adult, you need an ophthalmologist to determine whether the block is in the upper or lower system with different treatment for each. You cannot clean it out yourself but can massage to clear out accumulated debris until you get it medically fixed.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
What is the result of blocked tear duct?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. James Fergusonanswered
Pediatrics 47 years experience
Tears don't drain: If a tear duct does not drain, they well up along the edge of the eyelids & skin germs can get in & cause a chronic low grade crustiness or discharge.Sometimes recurrent inflammation of the eyelids will occur.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
How do you treat a blocked tear duct?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Jay Parkanswered
Pediatrics 51 years experience
See below: Dacryostenosis, clogged tear duct, is usually managed by gentle massages over tear duct. Most of clogged ducts open before 6 months of age.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Johanna Fricke commented
Pediatrics - Developmental and Behavioral 51 years experience
If massage + time don't work, a very quick procedure is done by a pediatric ophthalmologist to open the duct. It does require anaesthesia.
Nov 18, 2012
Last updated May 3, 2017
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