Vision conditions
Tearing disorder (Nasolacrimal duct obstruction)
Excessive tearing occurs when tears cannot drain properly through the nasolacrimal duct, causing watery eyes and discomfort. It’s common in infants and adults and can usually be evaluated to determine the best management approach.
Why tears overflow from the eyes
Understanding tear drainage problems
Tears normally drain from the eye surface through tiny ducts into the nose. When the nasolacrimal duct is blocked or narrowed, tears pool on the eye surface and spill over. This can happen from congenital narrowing, inflammation, or age-related changes in the drainage system.
Newborns — About 1 in 20
Approximately 5% of newborns have a blocked tear duct that usually improves with gentle massage or resolves by age 1.
Adults — Common with age
Tearing from duct obstruction becomes more frequent in adults over 40, often due to chronic inflammation or scarring of the drainage pathway.
When Tear Drainage Fails
When to consider an eye evaluation
Recognizing the Signs of Tearing Disorder
- Watery eyes in cold wind or bright light
- Mucus discharge or mattering of the eyelids
- Recurrent episodes of red, irritated eyes
- Blurred vision from constant tear overflow
The main sign is excessive tearing that doesn’t improve with blinking. Other symptoms may include:
If you’re experiencing these symptoms, we recommend scheduling an eye examination.
Ways to manage blocked tear ducts
Restoring proper tear drainage
Treatment depends on age and severity. After a thorough eye examination, your ophthalmologist may recommend:
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Clarifying Your Concerns
Frequently Asked Questions
We understand that vision correction is a significant decision. Here are honest, transparent answers to the questions we hear most often from our patients.
A nasolacrimal duct obstruction occurs when the tear duct, which drains tears from the eyes into the nose, becomes blocked. This can lead to excessive tearing or difficulty clearing tears from the eye.
In infants, it is often due to underdeveloped tear duct openings. In adults, blockages can be caused by infections, inflammation, aging, or injury to the duct.
Common symptoms include excessive tearing, mucus or discharge from the eye, and in some cases, redness or swelling around the tear duct area.
Treatment depends on the age and severity of the blockage. For infants, observation and gentle lid massage may be recommended. For adults, procedures such as probing, dilation, or surgery (DCR) may be needed to open the duct.
In infants, many cases resolve naturally as the tear ducts develop. For adults, treatment is often required to relieve symptoms and prevent infection.
Surgery, such as dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR), is considered if non-surgical treatments are ineffective, or if there is a risk of ongoing infection or severe blockage.
Yes. If the duct is blocked for an extended period, bacteria can build up, leading to infections such as dacryocystitis, which may require antibiotics or surgical drainage.