Does dacryocystitis in the adult need operative intervention?
Dacryocystitis is an inflammation of the lacrimal sac. It is seen externally at the medial corner of the eye as a tense red swelling that is tender to touch. The usual cause is a blocked tear duct with pooling of tears and secondary infection. Treatment is with broad-spectrum oral antibiotics.4 In the acute phase it is now unusual to drain these. In the long term, if the patient has recurrent attacks and is willing to undergo surgery, dacryocystorhinostomy is the operation of choice. This opens the lacrimal sac and diverts the tears higher up into the nose, so avoiding the block. It is a fairly major operation usually requiring a general anaesthetic. 10 Watery eyes are often seen in allergy and infection, but when should we worry about constantly watering eyes? As described above, watering eyes (epiphora) in children are common and usually resolve spontaneously. Acquired tear duct blockage is common in adults and is usually more of a nuisance than anything else. If symptoms are really
