Do your eyes constantly water, even when you're not emotional or exposed to wind? Does this tearing come with pain, swelling, or sticky discharge near the inner corner of the eye?
You might be suffering from a condition called dacryocystitis – an infection or blockage of the tear drainage sac.
🔍 What Is Dacryocystitis?
The eyes produce tears continuously to stay moist and healthy. These tears usually drain into a small sac near the inner corner of the eye (lacrimal sac), and from there into the nose via the nasolacrimal duct.
When this drainage system gets blocked:
- Tears have no place to go
- Constant tearing (epiphora) occurs
- Infections can develop
- Swelling near the nose
- Sticky eye discharge may follow
⚠️ The Traditional Treatment Involved Facial Scars
Historically, dacryocystitis was treated with Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) — a surgery involving a visible cut on the side of the nose to reach the tear sac and create a new drainage pathway.
While effective, this approach:
- Leaves a permanent facial scar
- Involves more tissue disruption
- Has longer healing time
🚀 The Game-Changer: Zero-Scar Endoscopic DCR
Today, there’s a scarless, faster-healing, and cosmetically superior alternative —Endoscopic Dacryocystorhinostomy (Endo-DCR).
This is done entirely through the nose using an endoscope (a thin, high-definition camera). The surgeon creates a new opening for the tear sac to drain directly into the nasal cavity — restoring natural tear flow without touching the skin of your face.
✅ Advantages of Endoscopic DCR:
- No External Cuts or Scars
- Shorter Recovery Time
- Minimal Bleeding
- Preserves Facial Aesthetics
- Equally Effective as Traditional DCR
- Can Address Nasal Issues like polyps or septal deviation simultaneously
👩⚕️ Who Is This Surgery For?
You may be a candidate for endoscopic DCR if:
- You have constant tearing that doesn’t improve with eye drops
- You’ve experienced repeated episodes of dacryocystitis
- ENT evaluation shows nasolacrimal duct obstruction
- You prefer a cosmetic, scar-free solution
👃 The Role of an ENT Surgeon
Many don’t realize that the tear duct drains into the nose. An ENT surgeon trained in nasal endoscopy is uniquely equipped to treat the blockage from the nasal side — precisely, gently, and scar-free.
✨ A Simple Procedure, A Big Difference
At our clinic, patients often walk in frustrated by years of eye watering, only to discover the solution lies not in the eye — but in the nose. With endoscopic DCR, many find complete and lasting relief.
🙌 Don’t Let Chronic Tearing Dampen Your Life
If you're constantly wiping your eyes, or have been told you need a surgery with a visible facial scar —Consider getting a second opinion.Endoscopic scar-free solutions are now the gold standard.
Frequently asked questions
Why do my eyes keep watering all the time? Tears normally drain from a small sac near the inner corner of the eye into the nose through the nasolacrimal duct. When this pathway is blocked, tears have nowhere to go, causing constant watering. Infection of the blocked sac, called dacryocystitis, can add pain, swelling and sticky discharge.
What is endoscopic DCR? Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (Endo-DCR) is done entirely through the nose using a thin camera called an endoscope. The surgeon creates a new opening so the tear sac drains directly into the nasal cavity, without a cut on the skin of the face.
Who may need endoscopic DCR? It may be considered if constant tearing does not improve with eye drops, if you have had repeated episodes of dacryocystitis, or if an ENT evaluation shows a blocked nasolacrimal duct.
Why is an ENT surgeon involved in a tear duct problem? The tear duct drains into the nose. An ENT surgeon trained in nasal endoscopy can treat the blockage from the nasal side, and can address nasal problems such as polyps or a deviated septum at the same time if needed.
General patient education. An individual consultation is needed to assess your symptoms and treatment options.
