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Eye Care Archive (Expert Forum)
Tear Duct Obstruction
Our Ask A Doctor Ophthalmology Forum is where you can post your question and receive a personal answer from physicians affiliated with the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Tear Duct Obstruction
by AdinaDinu, May 03, 2005 12:00AM
Hi, my name is Adina, I am from Bucharest, Romania. Every 6-12 months is the last 6 years I have had tear duct obstruction episodes, namely heavy tearing of the left eye, swollen internal corner of the eye, infected tears coming out through the puncta, local pains etc. Every time, the drenage happened naturally. The episodes seem to become longer and more paintful every time. Only recently I have been explained there is the DCR procedure which can solve this problem. The doctors I have talked to about it gave me very little details, so I have lots of questions about it:
- what happens/could happen if I don't undergo the DCR procedure? One doctor told me in Romania there is very little experience with DCR and it would be best to avoid the intervention as much as possible. Could the tear duct break? Could the infection spread? Where? etc.
- what are the risks associated with DCR?
- I have been sent by the ophtalmologist to a ORL doctor (nose doctor) to perform the operation. Is this normal?
- are there more types of interventions? as I understood, besides the DCR that basically 'cuts' a new tear duct through the nose, there is another procedure, less invasive, by which a tube is insterted in the existing tear duct (when not obstructed), left there for aprox. 6 months, in order to enlarge the tear duct and avoid future similar problems. Is this true and effective?
All information on this topic would help me make the right decision. Thank you in advance for all your support.
- what happens/could happen if I don't undergo the DCR procedure? One doctor told me in Romania there is very little experience with DCR and it would be best to avoid the intervention as much as possible. Could the tear duct break? Could the infection spread? Where? etc.
- what are the risks associated with DCR?
- I have been sent by the ophtalmologist to a ORL doctor (nose doctor) to perform the operation. Is this normal?
- are there more types of interventions? as I understood, besides the DCR that basically 'cuts' a new tear duct through the nose, there is another procedure, less invasive, by which a tube is insterted in the existing tear duct (when not obstructed), left there for aprox. 6 months, in order to enlarge the tear duct and avoid future similar problems. Is this true and effective?
All information on this topic would help me make the right decision. Thank you in advance for all your support.
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