Tear ducts sit near the nasal corners of the eye, and they drain away excess tears. A blocked tear duct, which doctors refer to as dacryostenosis, prevents tears from draining, resulting in excessive tearing that may appear as a stream of tears that runs down the face. Children and adults of any age may suffer from a blocked tear duct. Knowing some of the treatments for the condition may help individuals determine the best care for their eyes.
Massage
In some people with a blocked tear duct, gentle massage of the duct may help with drainage. In adults, the massage may encourage the blockage to break apart. A blocked duct in an infant may result from a membrane blocking the drainage canal. The massage may break open this membrane and allow tears to pass through. An eye care professional will show patients, or parents, how to massage the area properly, and they should perform the massage two or three times daily, states the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Dilation and Irrigation
A blocked duct may require a doctor to numb the eye with eyedrops and use a thin metal probe to widen the puncta, the opening of the tear duct---a process called dilation. This wide opening will then allow the doctor to use a syringe to push saline into the tear duct, explains MayoClinic.com. The pressure from the saline through the duct often pushes out the blockage and clears the tear duct. Some people require this procedure periodically to keep the ducts clear.
Surgery
Patients with blocked tear ducts who do not respond to massage or dilation and irrigation may require more invasive treatments, such as surgery. In some cases, the surgeon might need to insert tubes into the tear ducts to keep the passages open. Once the ducts heal, typically after a few months, the surgeon will remove the tubes. If the procedure worked, the tubes will have opened the tear ducts wider to prevent further blockages.
If scarring or other damage occurred to the ducts, a surgeon may need to reconstruct the tear duct, notes MedlinePlus. This will require more extensive surgery, and scar tissue from the procedure may continue to cause problems with tear drainage.
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