Blocked tear duct

What is it?

Tears keep the eyes healthy and lubricated and drain through two small holes in the upper and lower corners of your eyelids next to your nose every time you blink.

They run out into tear ducts that drain into your nose. If these tubes get narrowed or blocked, tears can’t drain away and your eyes water.

What are the symptoms?

The opening of the tear duct is swollen and red. You may also see the actual blockage.

The white of your eye may appear red and the eye may feel scratchy and irritable (pink eye).

What causes it?

Some babies are born with underdeveloped tear drainage and the ducts are blocked from birth. But a congenitally blocked tear duct rarely needs treatment as it usually opens as the baby grows.

At the other end of life, tear ducts may narrow with age leading to a blockage.

When a broken nose heals it may press on the duct. Nasal polyps may interfere with the ducts and eye drops to treat glaucoma make the ducts swell, as may eye infections.

Tumours in the nose and cancer treatment could also compromise the drainage.

What is the treatment?

Your treatment depends on what is causing the blocked tear duct.

Your doctor may prescribe antibiotic eyedrops or tablets for an eye infection.

After an injury, a watch and wait approach is advised as your tear duct might become unblocked on its own.

The duct can be opened with a probe, dilated with a small balloon and flushed out.

A small tube, called a stent, can be placed in the duct under general anaesthetic to keep tears draining.

As a last resort, surgery can open up the duct.