What is a Blocked Tear Duct (Nasolacrimal duct obstruction)?
Obstruction of the tear duct will cause tearing or watering of the eye because the tears cannot drain properly. Symptoms of a blocked tear duct include eyelashes that are stuck together by mucus or an accumulation of tears in one or both eyes. The tears trapped within the duct may become infected, causing a painful swelling in the inner corner of the eyelid. In infants the membrane that causes the obstruction will usually open by six months of age. If this does not occur, your physician will often recommend treatment to open the blockage.
