Home » Tearing Disorders & Lacrimal (tearing system) Surgery

Tearing can be the result of many different problems. If dry eye conditions are ruled out, then typically, it is the result of either faulty tear drainage or less commonly, excessive production of tears. Faulty tear drainage can be due to a blocked tear duct (secondary to inflammation, tumor, injury, other), an infection in the tear drainage system, or improper position of the eyelids.

Your Procedure

Management is usually surgical, but an evaluation to determine this is needed. Sometimes the existing system can be stented open. Other times, the existing system needs to be bypassed entirely in order for the tears to have a way out of the eyes. This involves surgery and the establishment of a new drainage pathway (dacrocystorhinostomy or DCR) or may require placement of an artificial tear duct (Jones tube). These procedures are usually done under generalized anesthesia.