Swollen Tear Duct: Tear duct swelling may commonly be experienced by each of us. The eyes and the nasolacrimal ducts are the pathways for draining the tears. This can be evidenced when a person tries to cry. Whenever, the ducts which help drain tears become blocked, these become swollen. Swollen tear duct are also at risk for infection because the trapped tears and debris would be an ideal environment for microbes to thrive in causing further swelling to the ducts.

The primary symptom that may be present in swollen tear duct is excessive tearing. You can easily tell it apart that the person is having swollen tear duct because tears would be rolling down his or her cheeks without an apparent reason accompanied by redness and swelling. There will also be some mucous discharges over the corners of the eyes and eyelids tend to stick together. Any of these symptoms gets aggravated especially when the affected individual is exposed to extremes in weather.

Treatment modalities for swollen tear duct vary depending on the underlying cause. Antibiotics are typically utilized when infection is present. This may be in a form of ophthalmic, topical or oral antibiotic. Ordinary tear duct swelling would just eventually resolve with the conventional modes of treatment. However, for damaged tear ducts, a reconstructive surgery may be required to correct the condition. The recovery rate varies from one individual to another. It would also depend on what had caused the swelling. Overall, the best way to handle swollen tear duct is to prevent its development by observing proper eye care and promptly treating infections involving the eyes and the nose.