What does it mean when your tear duct hurts?

A swollen tear duct can result from an infection or a blockage. Symptoms of a swollen tear duct include excessive tearing, eye discharge, chronic nasal infections, or injury. Self-care measures such as warm compresses are often effective for unblocking the duct.

What does a clogged tear duct feel like?

Signs and symptoms of a blocked tear duct include: Excessive tearing. Redness of the white part of the eye. Recurrent eye infection or inflammation (pink eye)

Can nasal polyps blocked tear ducts?

The tear ducts may become narrow due to thickening, swelling, or inflammation of their lining. This is called primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (PANDO) and is most common in women over the age of 40. Nasal problems, such as: An abnormal growth of tissue in the nose ( nasal polyps ), or tumors.

Can a blocked nose cause a blocked tear duct?

Total blockage of the punctal openings also may occur. Eye infections or inflammation. Chronic eye infections and inflammation in the tear drainage system or nose can cause tear ducts to become blocked.

Can allergies cause swollen tear ducts?

Nasal allergies: As with sinus problems, nasal allergies cause swelling, which may lead to scarring and result in blocked tear ducts.

How do you unclog a tear duct in adults?

For a narrowed punctum, your doctor can use a small probe to widen it. They’ll then flush or irrigate the tear duct with a saline solution. This is an outpatient procedure. If an injury caused the blockage, your best approach may be to wait several weeks to see if it heals on its own without any treatment.

Can sinusitis cause tearing?

Because the ethmoid sinuses are near the tear ducts, inflammation of these cavities often causes swelling of the eyelids, tearing and pressure between the eyes.

Can a sinus infection make your eyes tear?

Whether you are under the weather from allergies, a sinus infection or other eye related infections, these can all be causes of epiphora. Allergies and infections trigger an inflammatory response in your eye creating excessive tearing to help keep your eye comfortable.

Can sinus cause tear duct swelling?

If you have ongoing sinusitis, you get swollen tissues in your sinuses, which can form scars that block the tear ducts. Sinus surgery can also lead to a blockage by damaging the tear ducts or the holes that drain to them.