Introduction
A healthy, functional lacrimal (tearing) system helps to keep the eyes moist and healthy. The lacrimal gland produces tears, which then spread over the eye with each blink. The upper and lower eyelid puncta are openings that drain the tears into the nose through an efficient duct system.
The tear drainage system can cause troublesome issues if it becomes blocked or infected. With a blocked or infected tear duct, patients may experience painful swelling, excessive tearing, eye irritation, or an infectious discharge. Careful evaluation by a specialist is necessary to determine the cause of the problem and the appropriate treatment to restore health and comfort to your eyes.
Depending upon the diagnosis, treatment options include warm compresses, antibiotics, or surgery. Surgical procedures to help alleviate tearing include punctoplasty, canaliculoplasty, nasolacrimal probing and irrigation, nasolacrimal stenting, balloon dacryoplasty, eyelid tightening, dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR), conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy (c-DCR), endoscopic DCR, and others.
Dr. Enzer takes the time to explain to his patient the ‘how, what, where, and why’ of the planned procedure. Patients usually find great relief from their symptoms when the problem has been properly managed, and fortunately, these procedures usually have very high success rates.
In addition, Dr. Enzer was one of the first oculoplastic plastic surgeons to perform endoscopic laser dacryocystorhinostomies. Although the use of the laser has been discontinued, Dr. Enzer is still researching new techniques to make the non-invasive endoscopic approach the standard of care.
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