LACRIMAL DUCT OBSTRUCTION The tear duct, which starts as two small openings in the inner corner of the lower and upper eyelid, empties surplus of the tears into the nasal cavity. Tear duct obstruction causes watering and burring in the eye. Newborn babies with a regular massage application until the age of 1, tears are usually opened automatically.

In cases when it is not opened and in adults, a transition is established between the tear canal and the nasal cavity by surgical intervention. It is more common in women. The patient complains that his/her eye is continually watering and be burring.

When the drainage system that conveys the tear to the nose is clogged for any reason, some of the produced tears flow from eyelids to the face. Certain parts of the tears also accumulate in the drainage pathways. The accumulated tear often develops an infection and can cause a painful swelling or an inflamed stream at the inner parts of the eyelids.

HOW IS THE LACRIMAL DUCT OBSTRUCTION DETECTED? With a detailed examination, the reasons for watering are checked. Lavage is applied through the tear holes and the fluid is given. If the fluid, which is given to the tear hole, flows to the patient's nasal cavity, the ducts are open and if not, this means the ducts are clogged.





HOW IS THE LACRIMAL SAC OPENED? The treatment of lacrimal duct obstruction is surgery. Surgery opens a new passageway between the lacrimal sac and the nasal cavity. In some cases, a silicon tube placed in the lacrimal sac is removed two months after surgery to prevent the occlusion of this passage during healing. The success rate of this surgery is very high.

CONGENITAL LACRIMAL DUCT OBSTRUCTION Children may be born with a obstruction of tear drainage pathways. Watering and burring in one or both eyes of the baby may be a sign of congestion of congenital tear ducts. It can be seen more frequently in male, caesarean and premature babies.

The cause of congenital; This is because the baby has not yet completed the formation of tear ducts during the development of the mother's womb. Usually, the problem is that when the tear pouch is opened to the nose, the baby is born. In this case, the tears cannot discharge into the nose and blockages can cause watering and burring in the baby's eyes.

WHAT ARE THE TREATMENT STAGES? In infants this condition is usually temporary. It is more likely to improve with appropriate drops and massage. If the canal is not corrected for 12-18 months, under general anesthesia, the upper end of the tear canal is inserted with a device called the catheter and the obstruction which is in end of the canal is opened. It is an average of 3 minutes. The success rate is around 95%. Surgery may be required in patients who do not improved with catheter