Disorders of the tear drainage pathways can be acquired or congenital. Acquired disorders can be the consequence of disease, injury or the aging process.
The most frequent congenital disorder is the obstruction of the main tear duct (naso-lacrimal duct), which drains the tears from the eye to the nose. The hallmarks of this condition are tearing and mattering of the lashes. In some cases the tear sac may become inflammed due to infection.
Image 1. Inflammed and dilated tear (lacrimal) sac
In adults, the most frequent cause of tearing is the acquired obstruction of the naso-lacrimal duct. Besides tearing, which can cause blurry vision, there may be reflux of mucus or puss from the inner angle of the eye. The tear sac may become acutely inflammed because of infection, and this is a very painfull condition.
Lower eyelid malposition can alo be a cause of tearing, which necessitates corrective eyelid surgery.
The aim of all operations on the lacrimal drainage system is the restoration of the flow of tears and waste products from the eye surface to the nose.
In our practice we perform all types of operations on the lacrimal drainage pathways, in all age groups.
