Individuals with an obstructed tear duct often turn to tear duct surgery. This may be due to aging, injury, medications, tumors or inflammatory conditions. Signs and symptoms may include:
watery eyes
a discharge from the eyes
swelling of the eyes
pain and/or infection as well as blurred vision.
Through tear duct reconstructive surgery, a new passageway can be created to go around the obstruction in the tear duct. In rare cases, an artificial Jones tube is also placed to redirect the tears from the eye into the lacrimal sac.
Tear duct repair reconstructive surgery has an extremely high success rate. The surgery is an outpatient procedure with minimum common side effects such as: bruising and swelling that often only lasts for a maximum time period of two weeks.
After surgery, precautionary treatment can be undergone in order to reduce these side effects such as sleeping in a reclined position for one week after surgery and through the use of cold and warm compresses. After a successful recovery, patients are provided with relief and the tearing and discharge problems are eliminated.
Many infants can be born with blocked tear ducts and most cases resolve themselves within the first year of a child’s life. However, when cases are not resolved with regular treatment, it is best to catch a tear duct blockage as soon as possible. Likely candidates should choose a cosmetic surgeon who is board-certified and specializes in the tear drain system. Our cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Robert M. Schwarcz, is a specialist in this field and will provide you with all the support – and results – you deserve throughout the entire process.
