Lacrimal Duct Obstruction

The condition results from the partial or complete congenital or acquired obstruction of the lacrimal duct (tear duct). The most important complaint of our patients is excess tear production, and the infection symptoms like redness, crust formation and painful swelling at the nasal bridge may accompany the picture. The condition, which is encountered more commonly in the newborn infants, may also develop in the adult ages as a result of various infections, medications, traumas and tumors. The glaucoma patients, the cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and the patients with chronic eye infection are at risk.

The diagnosis uses the findings of the routine ophthalmologic examination, tear drainage tests, lacrimal duct irrigation and probing technique and radiologic imaging techniques.

Treatment of the infection if present, monitoring of the newborn infants and application of massage to their lacrimal duct in the way instructed by the physician, probing, duct dilatation procedure, tube placement and external or internal surgical intervention constitute the steps of treatment. (70% of the congenital obstructions may clear up within the first three months and 95% within the first year with no treatment.)

ASSOC. PROF. M. NECATİ DEMİR