Do you have watery eyes for no reason, with or without pain in the corner of the eye? It may be a blocked tear duct, also known as dacryostenosis, an often minor annoyance that nevertheless requires appropriate treatment.
In this article, we explain how to overcome this issue thanks to natural techniques and treatments, taken directly from the book of our own grandmother: Mamie Solo.
Blocked tear duct: why?
What is the nasolacrimal duct?
Let's start at the beginning: the tear duct, or nasolacrimal duct, is the part of the lacrimal system that allows tears to drain from the lacrimal puncta located at the inner corner of the eye through the lacrimal sac and then the tear duct into the nasal cavity. Easy, right?
The role of the tear ducts is therefore to drain excess tears into the nasal cavity.
💡 Good to know: tears, produced by the lacrimal glands, are designed to remove impurities from the eye while preserving the cornea. They are therefore essential for fighting dry eye.
Causes of a blocked tear duct
But then, why is this "pipe" blocked? There can be various causes:
-
👶 Immaturity of the tear ducts: in newborns, the tear duct is sometimes not fully open and is obstructed by membranes. In most cases, the problem resolves itself as they grow, but it still needs to be monitored.
-
🦠 Eye or eyelid infection: diseases like conjunctivitis can lead to an obstruction. Hence the importance of getting a diagnosis and treating an eye infection quickly.
-
🤒 Inflammatory diseases: an eye condition like sarcoidosis can block the tear ducts.
-
👃 Nasal malformations: a malformation of the sinuses or nose can press on the tear ducts and block them.
-
👁️ Abnormal eyelash growth: similarly, eyelashes that grow inward (called trichiasis) can disrupt the drainage of tears.
-
🧓 Aging: with age, the tear ducts shrink or become blocked more easily.
-
🩺 Tumors or polyps in the lacrimal area: the appearance of tumors, cysts, or polyps near the tear duct can also cause an obstruction.
🩹 Eye injuries: trauma or an eye injury can sometimes damage the duct and cause a blockage.
Diagnosing the cause of blocked tear ducts is what allows the doctor to prescribe appropriate treatments and medications: don't hesitate to consult as soon as the first symptoms appear!
Symptoms of a blocked tear duct
-
😭 Excessive tearing: since tears are no longer properly drained by the tear ducts, they accumulate in the eyes.
-
〰 Blurred vision: vision problems caused by excess tears and eye irritation.
-
👀 Presence of secretions or mucous discharge: if you wake up with your eyes stuck together, it may be a sign that something is wrong!
-
🌡 Recurring infections: if you have conjunctivitis that resists treatment or keeps coming back, it may be linked to a nasolacrimal obstruction.
-
😣 Pain in the corner of the eyes: one of the main consequences of a blocked tear duct is infection of the lacrimal sacs and sometimes even the eyelid. In this case, you may experience pain, redness—signs of eye irritation—as well as fever and secretions, characteristic of infections.
-
🩸 Blood in the tears: did you know? Crying blood-tinged tears is not a good sign, so hurry to get checked; it is a sign that your tear ducts are damaged.
Treatment for a blocked tear duct: four grandmother's remedies
To unclog a tear duct, there are several solutions. We remind you, however, that the omnipotence of grandmothers is not absolute: if their methods fail, hurry to consult a health professional!
Now that that's said, let's move on to Mamie Solo's 100% natural remedies!
Cleaning the tear duct
We promise, it won't hurt! You should know that very often, cleaning your eye with physiological saline helps unblock the nasolacrimal duct. Worth a try, right?
Come on, put down that bottle brush, we'll explain:
-
🧼 First of all, wash your hands and get a compress or cotton pad, as well as some physiological saline.
-
🧴 Open the saline pipette.
-
💧 Apply a drop of physiological saline to the inner corner of your eye. You can look up and hold (gently!) your upper eyelid to make the operation easier. If you really can't manage it, phone a friend (you can shout, "That's my final answer, Jean-Pierre!" if it helps; it's not required, but it is recommended).
You can combine cleaning and massaging the tear duct; we'll tell you about that right after.
Eye massage
Sometimes, a simple eye massage can help unblock the tear duct. It works for babies and young children, but also for adults, using simple self-massage movements:
-
🧼 Be sure to wash your hands (yes, again) and get a sterile compress as well as physiological saline.
-
👉 Perform a gentle massage in the corner of the eye, in the area of the blocked duct. Use your fingertip to make circular movements, without pressing too hard, following the duct from your eye toward the nasal cavity (don't put your finger in your nose, there's no need).
-
🧴 Clean any secretions with a compress soaked in physiological saline.
You can repeat this massage to unclog your tear ducts several times a day.
Note: this method works for mild and non-serious cases of obstruction. If symptoms persist, the Grandmothers' Union, who have an answer for everything, recommends you hurry to see a doctor.
Warm compresses
Another simple action that can help unclog: applying warm compresses. The heat and moisture will help facilitate the drainage of tears and secretions.
-
1️⃣ Start by taking some compresses, washable wipes, or even a towel. The important thing is that it is clean (did we mention you should wash your hands too?)
-
2️⃣ Run them under warm to hot water: the temperature must remain comfortable.
-
3️⃣ Wring them out so they remain damp.
-
4️⃣ Leave them on your closed eyelids for 5 to 10 minutes.
You can place compresses on your eyes several times during the day. Small bonus: if you add a little chamomile tea to your compresses, you enhance their soothing properties!
Chamomile infusion
We mentioned it just above; in addition to using chamomile in compresses, you can also drink it as an infusion to soothe your tired eyes and unclog a blocked tear duct.
And yes, if you're wondering, there's almost always an infusion recipe in Grandma's remedies. Blocked tear duct? Infusion. Economic crisis? Infusion. End of the world? Infusion.
Prevention: take care of your eyes!
And yes, we repeat it often, but it's the basics: taking care of your eyes daily avoids many troubles! And to help you, Grandma has a few more bonus tips:
-
💧 Fight against dry eyes: stay hydrated, think about foods full of vitamins for dry eyes, and have an ophthalmologist prescribe eye drops if necessary.
-
🔵 Blue light filtration from screens: another essential action is to avoid eye strain by wearing effective and stylish blue light glasses to filter the harmful waves of artificial blue light (we know a brand quite well-versed on the subject, just saying). By the way, also effective in reducing the hypersensitivity to light that can be caused by these kinds of issues.
-
👁 Preserve your little peepers: wear good sunglasses outdoors (even on cloudy days), wear glasses adapted to your vision, and remember to take a break from time to time if you wear contact lenses.
Final word: unblocking lacrimal glands with grandmother's remedies
-
Blockage of the tear duct in both adults and newborns can manifest as excessive tearing, pain in the corner of the eye, discharge, or even blood in the tears (yes, these are the same symptoms as when you get your butt kicked at Call of Duty).
-
The causes are diverse: eye infection, malformation of the lacrimal bone, effects of aging, or certain pathologies can cause a blockage of the duct.
-
You can try warm compresses, cleaning, and massaging the eye to attempt to unclog the duct.
-
It is imperative to consult a doctor if symptoms persist: some problems may require antibiotic treatment or even surgery. And it is even more important during the first years of life: for infants, you must act fast!
Comments
Un grand merci ! Effectivement tous vos conseils m’ont soulagé ! Les remèdes de grand mère sont bien efficaces !
Michel