Tear Duct Blocked

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Symptom Definition

• Blocked tear duct previously diagnosed by a physician
• A continuously watery eye (excessive tearing)
• Tears fill the eye and occasionally run down the face, even without crying
• Present at birth but onset of excessive tearing may be delayed until 1 or 2 months old.
• Both sides are blocked in 30% of children
• The eye is not red and the eyelid is not swollen (unless the soggy tissues become infected)

Causes

• Caused by blockage of the channel (lacrimal duct) that normally carries tears from the eye to the nose. Present at birth but onset of excessive tearing can be delayed until 1 or 2 months old.