Epiphora

Today we talk about the obstruction of the tear ducts and the ophthalmologist Maria Araújo explains what the main causes and consequences of this problem are:

In a normal situation, the tear is excreted in the lacrimal glands, lubricates and protects our eye and then drains into the nose through the tear ducts, where it evaporates and disappears.

We say that a patient has epiphora when he cries because he has an obstruction in the tear ducts, or because the eyelid is in an abnormal position and the tear does not even enter the tear ducts.

The diagnosis is made by an ophthalmologist in consultation and by performing an examination called a lacrimal duct probe. In adults, obstruction of the tear ducts can be caused by inflammatory processes, infectious processes, but rarely by a trauma involving the nose or, even rarer, by tumours. However, there are some anatomical features that can also contribute to this obstruction.

The consequences of the obstruction are epiphora, which we have already mentioned, and recurrent infections of the eye, tear sac or canaliculus. These infections can be more or less serious; however, in some cases they can lead to the need for hospitalisation due to propagation to the eye socket or even intracranial.

The treatment of obstructions is always surgical and depends on the site of the obstruction. In addition, the cause of the obstruction must also be treated before treating the obstruction. For example, if you have sinusitis, if you have a tumour, it must be treated before treating the obstruction. But in most cases, patients with early diagnosis and treatment have a good prognosis.

Babies are a case in point. In babies, the impermeability of the lacrimal ducts at birth, mostly resolves by the age of 1 year, spontaneously or with the help of massage. In those where it does not resolve, we have therapeutic probing or more complex surgery, depending on the case.

On tomorrow's show, we take questions about aesthetic treatments for the eye region.

With the support of the Portuguese Society of Ophthalmology.