blocked tear ducts

[eeeeck60]

I have had 3 DCR's, and an Ectropion in the past 3 years. I had the Jones tubes inserted in January.  The Jones tubes are now out of place and I am having surgery next week to go in and find them out.  Has anybody else had these problems?  My eyes water almost non-stop and it is affecting my work.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

You have a severe problem with no simple answers.  There are not significant alternatives to Jones tubes. You can see another oculoplastic surgeon for a second opinion. Likely the bump represents scar formation and/or fibrosis.

JCH MD

[lukhum]

I began having constant tearing in my left eye approx. 15 years ago,  had a DCR with Jones tube placement.  This worked well for about 10 years then the tube migrated into my nasal bone and had to be surgically removed and replaced with a bigger tube.  At the same time the right eye had also become occluded and w Crawford silastic stenting was done but the results was only good for about a year.  The second Jones tube worked approx. 5 months then again migrated down into my nasal bone and ultimately slid down the back of my throat and I spit it out in the bathroom sink.  I now have a large buldge at the site where the tear duct is below the inner canthus.  What can be done to correct this?  My Dr. wants to place Jones tubes in both eyes now,  but I'm reluctant to do so.  What else can be done to correct my tearing problem at this point and also fix this buldge?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Use the search features and archives to read the many posts about Jones tubes. They are difficult operations that often require revisions, replacements of the tubes, etc.

Be sure you are under the care of an experienced oculoplastic surgeon.

JCH MD