Blocked Tear Ducts

Topic Overview

What is a blocked tear duct?

Tears normally drain from the eye through small tubes called tear ducts, which stretch from the eye into the nose. If a tear duct becomes blocked or fails to open, tears cannot drain from the eye properly. The duct may fill with fluid and become swollen, inflamed, and sometimes infected.

Blocked tear ducts happen most often in babies, though they may occur at any age. They affect about 6 out of 100 newborns.^{footnote 1}

Most of the time, blocked tear ducts in babies clear up on their own during the baby's first year. They usually have no effect on the baby's vision or cause any lasting eye problems.

What causes a blocked tear duct?

Causes of blocked tear ducts in children include:

• Failure of the thin tissue at the end of the tear duct to open normally. This is the most common cause.
• Infections.
• Abnormal growth of the nasal bone that puts pressure on a tear duct and closes it off.
• Closed or undeveloped openings in the corners of the eyes where tears drain into the tear ducts.

Blocked tear ducts may run in families.

In adults, blocked tear ducts may be caused by an injury to the bones or tissues around the eyes or by another disorder, sometimes related to aging. For example, a blocked tear duct may result from a thickening of the tear duct lining, abnormal tissue or structures in the nose, or problems from surgery on or around the nose.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms often affect only one eye. They may include:

• Heavy tearing. This may range from the eye looking wet to having tears run down the cheek.
• A yellow or white buildup in the corner of the eye. The eyelids may stick together.
• Redness and swelling around the eye or nose. This can be caused by infection in the eye's drainage system, such as dacryocystitis. In severe cases, infection can spread to the eyelids. A severe infection can cause fever, pain, increased redness and swelling, and mucus or pus in the eye.

Babies who have blocked tear ducts usually have symptoms within the first few days to the first few weeks after birth.

The symptoms of a blocked tear duct may get worse after an upper respiratory infection, such as a cold or sinus infection. Wind, cold, and sunlight also may make symptoms worse.

How is a blocked tear duct diagnosed?

A blocked tear duct is diagnosed based on a medical history and a physical exam. The doctor may also use tests to measure the amount of tears or to see if tears are draining normally from the eyes. Other tests can help your doctor find out where the blockage is or how it was caused.

How is it treated?

Most babies who have blocked tear ducts don't need treatment. To help prevent infection and other problems until the blockage goes away:

• Keep the eye clean. To wipe away drainage, moisten a clean cotton ball or washcloth with warm water, and gently wipe from the inner (near the nose) to the outer part of the eye.
• If your child's doctor suggests it, gently massage the area of the blockage. This can prevent fluid buildup in the duct.
• Limit your child's time in the wind, cold, and sunlight.
• Always wash your hands before and after you touch the eye area.

If signs of infection develop, your baby may need antibiotics.

Sometimes a probing procedure may be done to open the duct if the duct doesn't clear on its own. Probing successfully opens the duct for about 80 out of 100 babies who have blocked ducts.^{footnote 1} In rare cases, babies with blocked tear ducts have a more severe problem that requires more complex surgery.

In adults who have blocked tear ducts, treatment depends on the cause of the blockage. If the duct is blocked because of a long-term infection, antibiotics may be used. Surgery may be needed for structural problems or abnormal growths. Probing usually isn't done for adults.