Painful lump on inside corner of eye

[TangoZWango]

My mother has been suffering with a painful lump on the inside corner of her eye for almost two years now.  She's seen at least 4 different eye docs and a specialist in Seattle that performed an invasive procedure with drilling and tubes, etc which made matters worse.  No one can seem to tell her what this lump is, why it won't go away or how to fix it.  We are at the end of our ropes trying to figure this out.  What do you recommend we do from here?  She's even tried tear duct plugs at one point.  She lives in Port Townsend & is elderly & does not travel well.  This is causing her anxiety & depression as well.  Please help.

[JohnHaganMD]

Well the oculoplastic surgeon has superlative training and reputation. The only thing I could suggest is going to U of WA Dept of Ophthalmology.

JCH MD

[TangoZWango]

She had the procedure with Dr. Tim Carey, Seattle.  http://www.drcarey.com/

[TangoZWango]

She lives in Port Townsend, Washington.  I live North of Seattle, Washington (in Everett, WA).

She's had two docs clear her for cataract surgery.  But my trust level is zero right now.  

[JohnHaganMD]

The "lacrimal puncta" is the small opening on the inner aspect of the upper and lower lids, sometimes elevated where the tears enter the tear ducts.

Where do you live? Sounds like you need to get to the most famous and experienced oculoplastic surgery you can get to.  Also recurrent or persistent infection raises the risk of a very serious infection in the eye at the time of cataract surgery.

JCH MD

[TangoZWango]

Thank you for the response.  Yes I believe that was the procedure she had done.  She ended up having to have him remove the tube earlier than planned as she thought it was giving her more discomfort.  I sure hope that doesn't negate the entire procedure as it was quite the ordeal.

She now has times where she gets a goopy discharge in her eye.  She has used numerous antibiotics for this & steroids but nothing seems to help.  Not even a warm compress.  

The lump has been there for almost two years.  It's what prompted her to get help from the beginning.  The term lacrimal puncta was used?  It hurts her when not touched.  Like there is something constantly stuck in the corner of her eye.  Could it be a cyst?  why has no one mentioned removing it?  or trying to unplug it?  

To make matters worse she is now almost blind out of that eye due to a huge cataract that she is scheduled to get removed mid November.  I fear that this will also make matters worse especially if she has an infection going on.  

Your help is greatly appreciated as we are fed up with running around to doctors.  Thank you

[JohnHaganMD]

You can correct me if I'm wrong but the problem sounds like a blocked tear duct and the procedure a DCR (dacryocystomomy with Jones Tube or retained intracannicular tubes).

The purpose of this surgery is to allow the eye tears to drain into the nose. So if she has an eye that doesn't water likely it achieved its purpose.

That much surgery is certain to leave some hard scarring that won't go away. If the lump is only painful if touched or pushed on then just avoid doing those things. If it hurts without push/touch then you would need to see the oculoplastic surgeon you have the most confidence in.

JCH MD