Watery eye and blocked tear duct
A constantly watering eye caused by narrowing or blockage of the tear drainage system into the nose.
Tears normally drain from the inner corner of the eyelid, through narrow tubes called canaliculi into a small tear sac, and then down a duct into the nose. When the drainage system narrows or blocks, tears spill onto the cheek, the eye feels constantly wet, and the inner corner can become red or infected. The medical term is epiphora.
Common symptoms
- A constantly watering eye, often worse in cold or wind
- Sticky discharge, particularly in the morning
- Recurrent infections of the tear sac (dacryocystitis), causing a tender lump beside the nose
- Blurred vision from the film of tears
Why it matters
A blocked tear duct is a nose-and-eye problem. The drainage system ends in the nose, so a rhinologist with eye-hospital experience is well placed to assess and treat it. Mr Gane sees patients with watery eye in his NHS lacrimal clinic at Moorfields Eye Hospital and offers the surgical treatment privately at Wimpole Street.
Assessment
Assessment includes examination of the eyelids and the inside of the nose, often with a small endoscope, and gentle syringing of the tear ducts to find where the blockage is. Imaging is occasionally needed.
Treatment
Some early or partial blockages settle with warm compresses, massage and treatment of any infection. For an established blockage causing troublesome symptoms, the operation is a dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR), which makes a new opening from the tear sac directly into the nose and bypasses the blocked duct. The DCR is described in detail on the procedure page.
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This page is general information and not a substitute for individual medical advice.