Excessive Tearing of the Eyes

With each blink, tears drain into the lacrimal sac, travel down through the nasolacrimal duct and into the nose. Sometimes an obstruction develops in this duct and tears cannot reach the nose. The blocked tears back up into the eye, causing an overflow of tears that may be troubling or embarrassing.

Symptoms of Excessive Tearing

  • Lid irritation
  • Matted eyelashes
  • Mucous or pus-like discharge from the tear duct

Possible Causes of Excessive Tearing

  • Dry Eye
  • Corneal Disease
  • Ectropion
  • Entropion
  • Blockage of the tear drainage system

Treatment of Excessive Tearing

A series of tests will be performed to help determine if you have a nasolacrimal obstruction. If we determine that your excess tearing is due to an obstruction, we may recommend a procedure called Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). DCR reconnects your tear drainage pathways to the inside of the nose so tears can drain properly.

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