What causes a tear duct infection?

What causes a tear duct infection?

The tear drainage system can get infected if it becomes blocked and bacteria collect in the ducts or the lacrimal sac. A blockage near the nose also can cause excessive tearing from the eye.

Are nose and eyes connected?

Though sight and smell are two very different senses, the eye and nose are intimately connected by the nasolacrimal apparatus, the drainage system that carries tears from the ocular surface to the nose and ultimately to the gastrointestinal tract. The interconnected nature of the nasolacrimal system.

How do you know if your tear duct is blocked?

Signs and symptoms of a blocked tear duct include:

  1. Excessive tearing.
  2. Redness of the white part of the eye.
  3. Recurrent eye infection or inflammation (pink eye)
  4. Painful swelling near the inside corner of the eye.
  5. Crusting of the eyelids.
  6. Mucus or pus discharge from the lids and surface of the eye.
  7. Blurred vision.

What causes an obstruction of the lacrimal duct?

Secondary acquired lacrimal duct obstruction has many different causes (2, 3). Secondary acquired lacrimal duct obstruction in the tract of the lacrimal sac and/or nasolacrimal duct is most frequently caused by facial trauma or surgery, neoplasm, sarcoidosis, or Wegener’s granulomatosis.

What causes an epiphora in the lacrimal duct?

Epiphora due to lacrimal duct obstruction is a common ophthalmologic problem, accounting for 3% of clinic ophthalmologic visits in some series (1). Obstruction of the lacrimal drainage system can be caused by congenital abnormalities or it can be acquired in the course of life.

How is congenital lacrimal duct obstruction treated in children?

Treatment of congenital lacrimal duct obstruction consists of initial observation for resolution followed by probing of children with persistent duct obstruction. Probing failures are treated with more aggressive surgical procedures including balloon dacryoplasty and nasolacrimal duct intubation.

When does Pando occur in the lacrimal duct?

Primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (PANDO) (1) develops most commonly in the tract of the lacrimal sac and duct, but it may also extend to the canaliculi. It occurs more frequently in women (50% to 83% of cases) than in men, and mostly in patients aged 40 years or older (1, 4).

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