Blocked tear duct

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Tear duct blockage

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Blocked tear duct

Definition:

A blocked treat duct describes a partial or complete obstruction in the duct system that carries tears away from the surface of the eye to the nose.

Alternative Names:

Dacryostenosis; Blocked nasolacrimal duct

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Tears from the surface of the eye are normally drained into the nose by a convoluted tube called the nasolacrimal duct. If this duct is blocked, the tears will accumulate and overflow onto the cheek, even when a person isn't crying.

In children, the duct may not be completely developed at birth. This often resolves on its own. In adults, the duct can be damaged by infection, injury or tumor.

Review Date: 7/24/2004
Reviewed By: Edward B. Feinberg, MD, MPH, Professor and Chair, Department of Ophthalmology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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