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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffSome of the tests used to diagnose a blocked tear duct include:
- Tear drainage test (fluorescein dye disappearance test). To test how your tears are draining, one drop of a special dye is placed in each eye. If there's a significant amount of dye in your eye after five minutes of normal blinking, you may have a blocked tear duct.
- Irrigation and probing. Your doctor may flush a saline solution through your tear drainage system to check how it's draining, or use a slender instrument (probe) inserted through the tiny drainage holes at the corner of your eye (puncta) to check for blockages. During this probing, the puncta usually dilates and if the problem is simply a narrowed puncta, this procedure may resolve the problem.
- Eye imaging tests (dacryocystography or dacryoscintigraphy). In these procedures, a contrast dye is passed from the puncta in the corner of your eye through your tear drainage system. Then, X-ray, computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images are taken to find the location and cause of the blockage.
References
- Dacryostenosis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec09/ch100/ch100g.html#sec09-ch100-ch100d-200l. Accessed Aug. 23, 2010.
- Paysse EA, et al. Nasolacrimal duct obstruction (dacryostenosis). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 23, 2010.
- Casady DR, et al. Stepwise treatment paradigm for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2006;22:243.
- Mills DM, et al. Acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Otolaryngology Clinics of North America. 2006;39:979.
- Kapadia MK, et al. Evaluation and management of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Otolaryngology Clinics of North America. 2006;39:959.
- Hurwitz JJ. The Lacrimal drainage system. In: Yanoff M, et al. Ophthalmology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Inc.; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/215591989-11/0/1869/585.html?tocnode=56526590&fromURL=585.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-04332-8..00244-4_5653. Accessed Aug. 20, 2010.
- Emaeli B, et al. Prospective study of incidence and severity of epiphora and canalicular stenosis in patients with metastatic breast cancer receiving docetaxel. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2006;22:3619.
- Dantas RR. Lacrimal drainage system obstruction. Seminars in Ophthalmology. 2010;25:98.
- Weiss AH. Conjunctivitis beyond the neonatal period. In: Long SS, et al. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/215591989-9/1041841990/1679/89.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06687-0..50088-6--cesec20_1773. Accessed Aug. 20, 2010.
- Becelli R, et al. Posttraumatic obstruction of lacrimal pathways: A retrospective analysis of 58 consecutive naso-orbitoethmoid fractures. Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. 2004;15:29.
- Robertson DM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 30, 2010.
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