Lacrimal Surgery

What is lacrimal surgery?

Nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) can result in a watery eye or repeated eye infections, due to an obstruction of the nasolacrimal excretory system, which blocks the outflow of tears.

Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR), or lacrimal surgery, is a type of oculoplastic bypass procedure performed for the treatment of tearing due to blockage of the nasolacrimal duct. Tears originate in the lacrimal gland, located at the upper outer margin of the eye. The lacrimal sac is located between the eye and the nose, and funnels tears into the nasal cavity through the nasolacrimal duct. Blockage of the nasolacrimal duct can be treated by creating a direct opening from the lacrimal sac into the nasal cavity during lacrimal surgery. Therefore, the goal of the procedure is to bypass the obstructed duct and allow for adequate tear drainage into the nose.

Surgery is often performed under general anesthetic, but may be performed under local anesthetic according to patient or surgeon preference.