Tearing
Tearing is a common complaint and is often due to obstruction of the nasolacrimal outflow tract which carries the tears away from the eye. When the nasolacrimal outflow tract is blocked, tearing can occur since there is no way for the tears to drain away from the eyeball. In some cases infection can occur, leading to dacryocystitis and the need for more rigorous medical and surgical therapy.
Tearing can occur both in children and adults. In children with congenital Blocked Tear Ducts, the condition often will spontaneously correct itself by one year of age. If the tearing does not resolve, either probing or placement of stents can be performed at Children’s Hospital, with a very high degree of success.
Tearing in adults can be caused by a large number of underlying problems. When a blockage of the nasolacrimal outflow tract is present, surgery may be necessary to reconstruct a new pathway for the tears to drain into the nose. A dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is a common procedure in which the nasolacrimal tract is rerouted around an obstruction. This procedure has a very high chance of success.