Surgery for Tearing Disorders in Miami, FL

What Are Tearing Disorders?

Tearing can be a very troublesome problem. Frequently, it can be burdensome and embarrassing, giving the appearance that you are crying constantly or at inappropriate times. Tearing conditions can also contribute to other significant problems such as blurry vision and irritation of the surrounding skin areas.

What Are the Benefits of Surgery for Tearing Disorders?

Symptoms of tearing can be caused by too much production of excess tears, insufficient drainage of tears, or some combination of both conditions. Although there are a number of reasons to have too many tears, in many cases, excess production of tears is actually due to a hidden dry eye condition, which can stimulate the lacrimal (tear) gland to produce excess watery tears that can just stream down the face.

Tearing due to insufficient drainage is commonly due to either a problem with the eyelids or a problem with the nasolacrimal (tear drainage) system. Evaluation for these disorders will be performed on initial consultation with Dr. Lewen to determine the cause of your tearing. Dr. Lewen will be happy to answer any questions that you may have related to a tearing condition at this time.

What is Blocked Tear Duct Treatment?

The tear ducts are intended to help tears flow out of the eye area. If the tear ducts are blocked, the eyes may feel dry or the individual may experience excessive tearing. Blocked tear duct treatment opens the ducts to allow the normal flow of tears in and across the eyes.

What Should I Expect from Surgery for Tearing Disorders?

Dr. Lewen spends about 30 to 45 minutes with you for a comprehensive consultation to evaluate your condition and describe the recommended surgery for tearing disorders.

Punctoplasty is performed in-office by numbing the tear duct area and administering medication to open the tear ducts. A specialized tool is used to remove excess tissue from the opening.

The technique is known as “probe and tube” requires the use of general anesthesia. The procedure takes about 15 minutes to insert a small tube into the tear duct that enhances the opening. After approximately three months, the tube is removed from the tear duct. A more extensive probe and the tube is the dacryocystorhinostomy, or DCR, that requires an external incision prior to tube placement. A variation of the DCR is the conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy, or CDCR, that modifies the tear duct drainage to pass through the nasal cavity.