Tear Duct Surgery

Nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) occurs as a congenital or acquired disease and can cause a watery eye, due to obstruction of the outflow of tears.

Acquired NLDO may develop for a variety of reasons, including secondary to facial trauma, chronic environmental allergies, toxicity from chemotherapeutic drugs or topical medications, tumors, sinus disease, or after sinus surgery.

Initial treatment of NLDO includes determining and addressing the cause(s) of tearing and correcting any eyelid malposition or ocular surface abnormalities contributing to symptoms. Partial NLDO in adults may occasionally be amenable to silicone intubation without creating a bony bypass called a dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). DCR procedure involves removal of bone adjacent to the nasolacrimal sac and bypassing the nasolacrimal duct obstruction. This allows tears to drain directly into the nasal cavity from the canaliculi via a new low-resistance pathway. This can be done externally (minimal scar) or endoscopically (through the nose/scarless) depending on nasal anatomy, which will be evaluated at your consultation with Dr. Rosh.