{"id":5395,"date":"2025-10-27T16:50:24","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T16:50:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/?p=5395"},"modified":"2025-11-08T09:13:28","modified_gmt":"2025-11-08T09:13:28","slug":"what-is-a-blocked-tear-duct","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/what-is-a-blocked-tear-duct\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Blocked Tear Duct?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"5395\" class=\"elementor elementor-5395\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e738f4e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e738f4e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e258c04\" data-id=\"e258c04\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0076135 elementor-toc--minimized-on-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-table-of-contents\" data-id=\"0076135\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:[],&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;bullets&quot;,&quot;no_headings_message&quot;:&quot;No headings were found on this page.&quot;,&quot;sticky&quot;:&quot;top&quot;,&quot;sticky_offset&quot;:130,&quot;sticky_parent&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h2&quot;,&quot;h3&quot;,&quot;h4&quot;,&quot;h5&quot;,&quot;h6&quot;],&quot;icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;fas fa-circle&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-solid&quot;},&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;hierarchical_view&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;sticky_on&quot;:[&quot;desktop&quot;,&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;mobile&quot;],&quot;sticky_effects_offset&quot;:0,&quot;sticky_anchor_link_offset&quot;:0}\" data-widget_type=\"table-of-contents.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-toc__header-title\">\n\t\t\t\tTable of Contents\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__0076135\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Open table of contents\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-chevron-down\"><\/i><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__0076135\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Close table of contents\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-chevron-up\"><\/i><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-toc__0076135\" class=\"elementor-toc__body\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__spinner-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<i class=\"elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin eicon-loading\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cdca4ee\" data-id=\"cdca4ee\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-898726d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"898726d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A blocked tear duct is a clog in the eye\u2019s tear drainage system. When tears cannot drain correctly, they well up on the eye, causing watery, irritated eyes. This condition is also known as a nasolacrimal duct obstruction.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b1090f5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b1090f5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How the Tear Drainage System Works\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-429af96 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"429af96\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Your tears lubricate and protect your eyes. Tear glands, located in and around your upper eyelids, produce these tears.<\/p><p>Tears flow from the tear glands down the eye\u2019s surface. They then drain into the tear ducts, or puncta, which are inside the corners of your eyes. From there, tears travel through small tubes called lacrimal canals. These canals lead to lacrimal sacs at the inner corners of your eyes before draining through the side of the nose.<\/p><p>If the drainage system is healthy, the tears either evaporate or are absorbed naturally. When a blockage occurs at any point along this path, tears back up. This often results in watery eyes and other symptoms.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ffd760d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ffd760d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What Causes a Clogged Tear Duct?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b2718ae elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b2718ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A clogged tear duct can be bothersome and can happen for several reasons in both adults and children.<\/p><p><b>Anatomy and Development<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The blockage can be present from birth. This is known as a congenital blocked tear duct. Between 6 and 20 percent of babies are born with this condition. The blockage usually resolves on its own within a few months as the baby\u2019s tear drainage system fully develops.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Punctal stenosis, a narrowing of the lacrimal canals, is another anatomical cause. These canals carry tears from the tear ducts to the lacrimal sacs. People around age 40 and older, especially those with eyelid inflammation (blepharitis), can develop this narrowing. People with disorders affecting the skull and face development, such as Down syndrome, have a greater likelihood of developing blocked tear ducts.<\/span><\/p><p><b>Injury and Infection<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eye infections, such as pink eye (conjunctivitis) or infections from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/contacts\/\" title=\"contact lenses\">contact lenses<\/a>, can cause swelling. This swelling can close off the tear ducts and lead to a blockage. If bacteria get into the tear drainage system, an infected tear duct, called dacryocystitis, can occur.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trauma to the eye or nose, such as a broken nose, can produce swelling and scars. These scars can obstruct the tear ducts. Chronic nasal infections like sinusitis can also cause scarring that blocks the tear duct system.<\/span><\/p><p><b>Medical Factors<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some medical treatments can cause tear ducts to swell and become blocked. Certain glaucoma eye drops or specific cancer treatments have been shown to cause swelling in the tear drainage system. Allergies can also cause polyps, or small bumps, to form in the nasal lining. The polyps push on the tear duct, causing a blockage. Nasal lining swelling caused by allergies can also obstruct the tear ducts.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f87cbe6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f87cbe6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What Are the Symptoms of a Blocked Tear Duct?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-07c4132 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"07c4132\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-7d86993\" data-id=\"7d86993\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ceca39 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2ceca39\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Symptoms of a blocked tear duct can become more noticeable after a cold or sinus infection. You might also see symptoms worsen in direct sunlight, in low temperatures, or in windy weather.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some blocked tear duct symptoms can also signal another eye condition or infection. It is necessary to see an optometrist or ophthalmologist for an exam to know the true problem.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Symptoms of a blocked tear duct or infected tear duct include:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Watery eyes (excessive tearing).<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Swelling, redness, or pain around the nose or at the inner corner of the eye.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Redness of the whites of your eyes.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-6ee1785\" data-id=\"6ee1785\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d1dc120 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d1dc120\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/eye-infection-768x768.png\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-5398\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/eye-infection-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/eye-infection-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/eye-infection-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/eye-infection.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-152b456 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"152b456\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mucus discharge from the eye that might form a crust.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recurring eye infections.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blurry vision.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blood-tinged tears.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fever.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8c2c599 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8c2c599\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How Are Blocked Tear Ducts Treated?\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-926be2b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"926be2b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Treatment for a blocked tear duct depends on the cause. The blockage can often be corrected with non-surgical or surgical methods.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your eye doctor might suggest one or more of these treatments:<\/span><\/p><p><b>Observation and Massage<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A blocked tear duct sometimes fixes itself. For example, a baby\u2019s congenital clogged eye duct usually clears within a few months as the tear drainage system matures. For babies with this condition, your eye doctor might show you a gentle massage technique to encourage the ducts to open and flow.<\/span><\/p><p><b>Medication<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your eye doctor suspects an infection is present, they may prescribe antibiotics. These can be antibiotic eye drops or oral medication to reduce the infection and swelling.<\/span><\/p><p><b>Non-Surgical Procedures<\/b><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Dilating, Probing, and Flushing &#8211;\u00a0A healthcare provider uses a small probe to enlarge the small or clogged tear duct openings. The duct may then be flushed out with a saline solution. For children, this procedure may be performed under anesthesia.<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Balloon Catheter Dilation &#8211;\u00a0A thin catheter with a deflated balloon is inserted into the blocked tear duct. The balloon is inflated and deflated repeatedly to open the passageway. This procedure is typically done under anesthesia.<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Stenting (Intubation) &#8211;\u00a0A thin tube, or stent, is threaded through the tear drainage system from the tear duct into the nose. This tube holds the duct open. This procedure is also typically performed under anesthesia.<\/li><\/ul><p><b>Surgical Treatment<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dacryocystorhinostomy, often called DCR, is a surgical solution. This surgery creates a new pathway between the tear ducts and the nose for tears to drain. DCR is typically performed under anesthesia.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3db061 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c3db061\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Taking Care of Your Eye Health<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b7acb23 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b7acb23\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tears are significant part of your eye health. They keep your eyes lubricated to prevent dry eyes, protect against irritation and infection, and help keep your vision clear.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Getting regular comprehensive eye exams will help maintain the health of your tear drainage system and your eyes overall. Make sure to see an eye doctor whenever you experience vision problems, eye discomfort, or suspect you have an eye issue.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Table of Contents A blocked tear duct is a clog in the eye\u2019s tear drainage system. When tears cannot drain correctly, they well up on the eye, causing watery, irritated eyes. This condition is also known as a nasolacrimal duct obstruction. How the Tear Drainage System Works Your tears lubricate and protect your eyes. Tear [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":5396,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"semantictags":[],"class_list":["post-5395","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5395","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5395"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5395\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5420,"href":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5395\/revisions\/5420"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5396"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5395"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5395"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5395"},{"taxonomy":"semantictags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/semantictags?post=5395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}