WATERY EYES
Some people suffer from a watery eye. This can be very annoying and is caused by dry eyes, eye irritation, an eyelid problem, or a narrowing blockage at the level of the tear ducts. This is because the tear ducts carry the tears away to the nose. This can be treated with a dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) or conjunctivorhinostomy (Jones tube).
DACRYOCYSTORHINOSTOMY
(DCR)
In a dacryocystorhinostomy, a connection is made between the tear sac and the nose so that tears can be drained normally again. This is done through an operation lasting about 30 to 45 minutes. Under general anaesthesia, a two-centimetre skin incision is created, and a stent is placed. For three to nine months, this keeps the tear ducts open. The tube can be seen as a rubber band in the corner of the eye that ends in the nose. You should not rub the corner of the eye or cut anything away from the nose during this period. After the dacryocystorhinostomy, it is normal for slight bleeding to occur from the wound or nose. Do not cover the skin wound on the nasal flank. You can disinfect the skin cut with a cotton swab soaked in betadine; the facial skin is so well-perfused that it heals nicely without a scar. In collaboration with the nose, throat and ear surgeon, we also perform internal endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy when possible. After five to seven days, the sutures will be removed.
CONJUNCTIVORHINOSTOMY
(JONES TUBE)
If the tear duct in the corner of the eye is blocked, a conjunctivorhinostomy is necessary. In this operation, a Jones tube is used to create a connection between the corner of the eye and the nose. This allows tears to be drained again, normally through a glass tube fixed with wires. After surgery, it is recommended to close the eye when blowing the nose, as some air or mucus may return to the eye.