I was just wondering if anyone had this problem....my eyes always have watered, all day every day, it is embarrassing and very inconvenient. I am always dabbing my eyes with a klenex. I have been to a specialist who said my tear ducts were closed off, he gave me some medicine which never worked. I hate going to that doctor cause they always put needles in the corner of each eye to see if the tear duct is still closed. I guess what i would want to know is if anyone else has this problem and has anything worked for you? Any info would help.

[This message has been edited by heavenlyangel444 (edited 06-07-2003).]

I don't have it, but I have heard of this problem. First of all, I hope they numb your eyes when they try to insert the needles into your tear ducts. I know that there are ways of opening clogged or closed tear ducts, but I am not exactly sure what they are. If they gave you medicine and it didn't work, then you have to go back. The reason you have to wipe your eyes so much is because your tears don't have any place to go but down your cheeks if your tear ducts are clogged/closed. I know about this because I occasionally have watery eyes too. My tear ducts are all closed. All 4 of them. But I WANT my tear ducts to be closed. My eyes are dry and I need to preserve my tears. If your punctum (the holes of the tear ducts) are closed then your tears won't drain out through the nasolacrimal ducts. Is this in both eyes or just one? How many ducts are closed?

Thanks for your response! I think all of my tear ducts were closed, that's what the doctor said anyways. Both of my eyes water all the time, and no they didn't numb the area they just stuck the needle down and told me not to move! I have that done a lot and its scary lol.

Where in Michigan are you? I could give you names of top eye people if you're interested http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Hi there,
I'm from the Grand Rapids area and if you're near by I'd be happy to refer you to our opthamologist. If you aren't getting numbed--for goodness sakes find a better doctor! There are ways to open those ducts and you shouldn't be suffering like that or fearful of going to the doctor.
Kathy

Hi again, I am from fenton, and the doctor I have been seeing is dr.midland, he is pretty good but he hasnt fixed my eyes! Which eye doctor have you guys been going too?

My left tear duct was blocked. I went to an oculoplatic surgeon in Washington DC. First he gave me steroid drops. When that did not work he chose a surgical option of intubating the tear ducts. It's called a canalicular intubation. I had it done in March and you're supposed to keep the tube in for 6 months (you can't see it.) It solved the tearing problem immediately. Iwent for a second opinion before going ahead with the surgery and they both agreed this was the only thing that would work. When both of the doctors probed the tear ducts, they always used numbing drops.

Hi there

I have just joined this website and searched for anyone who has posted any problems relating to blocked tear ducts.

I also have this problem, but only in my left eye. When I was born until the age of about 5/6 my eye constantly watered. I also went to the hospital and the surgeons/doctors put me to sleep and poked needles into the corner of my eye. It has also been a problem and a few years ago I went to a specialist ent surgeon who did a few tests. He numbed my whole eye area and squirted, down a needle, some water. Only a tiny bit went down my nose and the rest came straight out of my eye in a stream!!! He concluded that my blocked tear duct problem was actually caused by a "bone blockage". He said in order to rid of this problem I would have to undergo a massive operation whereby a camera would be inserted up my left nostril and the bone blockage cut away. In the end it was whether the problem was more of a problem as in it can sometimes get infected or if it was more of a cosmetic nuisance. I opted out of this procedure.

Anyway, the reason I looked for other postages in relation to blocked tear ducts was that along with the blocked tear duct, my eyes are also a different shape than each other and also when I smile my right eye looks normal and my left eye looks as if I am on drugs and area really wide open!!! It almost looks like I have a false left eye. Do you have this problem?

If anybody else reads this and has this problem, please please please let me know as surely there is something that can be done???