“What causes blocked tear ducts in adults?”
I am a 33 year old male and I have blocked tear ducts. What causes blocked tear ducts in adults?
5 Answers
Blocked tear ducts can happen at any age, and is quite common in newborn infants. In adults, the causes are many and varied. The main causes of tear duct blockage in adults are: age-related changes; infection/inflammation; trauma/injury; tumor; inflammatory conditions, glaucoma eye drops, and cancer treatments. Lets quickly discuss each cause.
Age-related changes - as one ages, the small opening and tubes can shrink making the passages too small for the tears.
Inflammation/infection - this is probably one of the most common causes. Inflammation from either infection or other causes can cause the mucosa and lining of the passages to swell - blocking the drainage of the tears.
Trauma/Injury - can disrupt the passages themselves, or can cause scarring to block the passageways.
Tumor - benign or cancerous can block the tubes anywhere along the passageway.
Inflammatory conditions - such as sarcoidosis, arthritic conditions, and granulomatousis can cause swelling or scarring that will block the tear ducts.
Glaucoma eye drops - can cause irritation of inflammation which blocks the tear ducts.
Cancer treatments - one of the side effects of some cancer treatment therapies is blocked tear ducts, which may be transient or permanent.
One of the best ways to determine what process is going on is to see a well trained Ocuoplastic surgeon who specialized in these types of processes.
Age-related changes - as one ages, the small opening and tubes can shrink making the passages too small for the tears.
Inflammation/infection - this is probably one of the most common causes. Inflammation from either infection or other causes can cause the mucosa and lining of the passages to swell - blocking the drainage of the tears.
Trauma/Injury - can disrupt the passages themselves, or can cause scarring to block the passageways.
Tumor - benign or cancerous can block the tubes anywhere along the passageway.
Inflammatory conditions - such as sarcoidosis, arthritic conditions, and granulomatousis can cause swelling or scarring that will block the tear ducts.
Glaucoma eye drops - can cause irritation of inflammation which blocks the tear ducts.
Cancer treatments - one of the side effects of some cancer treatment therapies is blocked tear ducts, which may be transient or permanent.
One of the best ways to determine what process is going on is to see a well trained Ocuoplastic surgeon who specialized in these types of processes.
If you have small tear ducts, they can clog easier. Also, working in a dusty environment (construction/carpentry/mechanic repair/painting...anything with fine dust particles) clogs the tear ducts. The oil ducts can be clogged up as well.
Inflammation from a variety of eye conditions. If you suspect they are clogged see a eyecare professional
Infection, unresolved congenital narrow tear ducts
You were most likely born this way.
