Tearing

Occasional tearing of the eye is normal, but what it becomes excessive? Excessive tearing can be a symptom of multiple eye disorders. Dealing with excessive tearing can be frustrating, especially if you can’t pin point the cause. Our doctors at Medicus are here to diagnose your problem, as well as offer solutions.

Dry Eye Syndrome

Strangely enough, a symptom of dry eye syndrome is watery eyes. This is your body’s reaction to the dry sensation in the eye. Your body will overcompensate with excessive tearing in order to lubricate the eye, although this does not actually help get rid of dry eye. If you have dry eye syndrome, there is a deficiency in the tear film, meaning that no matter how many tears your body produces, they won’t help dry eye symptoms.

There are many treatment available for dry eye syndrome, such as artificial tears, medicated eye drops and nutritional supplements. There is no outright cure for dry eye syndrome, but symptoms are easily managed with the right treatment. Our doctors at Medicus will be able to determine the best course of treatment for you.

Punctal Stenosis

Punctal stenosis happens when the openings to the tear drainage system, located on the edge of the upper and lower eyelids near the nose, become narrowed, blocking tears from entering the normal tear drainage system.  Treatment options for tearing caused by punctal stenosis include a procedure performed under local anesthesia in the office to enlarge the opening to the tear duct.

Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction

Normally, tears drain through tiny openings in the corners of the upper and lower eyelids called puncta. They then enter the nose through the nasolacrimal duct. Tear duct obstruction prevents tears from draining through this system normally.  If the tear duct is blocked, there will be backflow of tears and discharge from the eye.

Tear duct massage can be helpful to alleviate symptoms. If the blocked tear duct is persistent or recurrent, it may be best to undergo a procedure called tear duct probing.

Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR)

If damage to the tear duct is irreparable, a bypass communication needs to be created between the tear duct and the nose to allow the tears to drain. The procedure is performed in the operating room under general anesthesia or deep sedation and involves placing tubes in the lacrimal ducts, generally for a couple of months. When it comes time for tube removal, they are easily removed in office, and removal is typically painless.