Tear Duct called Naso-Lacrimal duct is a channel that drains tears from the eye surface to the nose. The obstruction of this duct causes the tear not to drain in the normal way but stay in the eye or come out as tears. This is called Naso-Lacrimal Duct Obstruction (NLDO). It is usually associated with infection, discharges, and inflammation.

Naso-Lacrimal Duct sometimes does not develop properly in gestational life and the newborn baby’s eye starts tearing and discharges from the first day of age. NLDO is common in newborn babies and 6 – 20 percent of newborn babies have NLDO.

Signs and Symptoms: Excess tearing, yellow or white eye discharges, eye redness, swelling, and pain are the common signs and symptoms and are usually present since the first day of age.

Causes: NLDO is usually congenital. Since this duct is so narrow, blockage happens and the tear does not drain to the nose. Sometimes it could have other causes as well.

Treatment: The first treatment is advising local antibiotics to control infection. Massaging is also significant. If the obstruction is not opened till 6 months of age, “Probing” is done for the child. Probing could be done from 6 months of age to 18 months. If the obstruction persists, the final option is DCR surgery which is advised in adult age.