Ophthalmologist & oculoplastic surgeon — Boulogne-Billancourt · Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Dr Léo Prud'hommeOphthalmologist · Oculoplastic surgeon
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Tear duct surgery

Tears are produced by the lacrimal glands, located above the outer half of each eye. With every blink they drain through the puncta at the inner corners of the upper and lower eyelids, then through the canaliculi to the lacrimal sac within the nasal bones. The pathway ends in the nasal cavity via the nasolacrimal duct.

nostril Lacrimal gland upper lacrimal punctum lower lacrimal punctum nasal cavity Canaliculi Lacrimal sac Nasolacrimal duct
The nasolacrimal duct opens into the nasal cavity, inside the nose — hence the runny nose when we cry.

The tear duct can become blocked over time, preventing tear drainage and causing watery eyes or even dacryocystitis (infection of the lacrimal sac). In case of marked watering or previous dacryocystitis, imaging of the tear ducts (dacryo-CT) is performed to locate the level of the blockage.

Depending on the results, two surgical options exist:

  • Balloon dilation of the tear ducts when the nasolacrimal duct is patent but narrow.
  • A dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) in case of complete obstruction.

Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR)

A procedure that restores tear drainage into the nose by creating a direct passage between the lacrimal sac and the nasal cavity, through a small incision at the corner of the eye. It is performed under general anaesthesia, takes about thirty minutes, with one night in hospital. The scar is discreet over the anterior lacrimal crest and stitches are removed about one week after surgery.

Balloon dilation of the tear ducts

It is performed under general anaesthesia as day surgery and takes only a few minutes. There is no scar.
After — dacryocystorhinostomie Before — dacryocystorhinostomie BeforeAfter
Dacryocystitis: before / after dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) — drag the slider

Information sheets from the French Society of Ophthalmology

To read before your procedure — information and consent sheet (in French):

📄 Dacryocystorhinostomy (SFO sheet No. 37)PDF

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Consultations in Boulogne-Billancourt (Ophtalife) and Saint-Maur-des-Fossés (Beaurepaire).

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