What to Expect During a Dacryocystitis Surgery?
Sat May 01 2021
Infections affecting the eye are common and can cause great discomfort in our day-to-day life. Dacryocystitis is one such infection. It is an infection of the tear sacs present at the corner of your eyes, causing pain, redness and watering.
Dacryocystitis usually can be treated with minimal treatment. However, if the infection leads to blockage of the tear sacs (often the case with chronic dacryocystitis), your doctor will suggest dacryocystitis surgery.
In this article, we are going to learn in detail about dacryocystitis surgery. Before discussing the procedure and need of dacryocystitis surgery in detail, let’s first understand the types, causes and symptoms of dacryocystitis.
Dacryocystitis: Types, Causes and Symptoms
Tear sacs that sit on the top of the tear ducts may get inflamed as a result of an infection. This inflammation is called dacryocystitis.
When the tear sacs get blocked, it blocks the normal function of tears; consequently, bacteria accumulate in the tear ducts.
Types-
Dacryocystitis can be either acute or chronic, depending upon the onset of symptoms. In acute dacryocystitis, the onset of symptoms is sudden, and it can be treated with antibiotics. In chronic dacryocystitis, the onset is gradual, and there is severe blockage of the tear ducts. In this case, doctors suggest dacryocystitis surgery as an effective way of dacryocystitis treatment.
Causes-
The most common dacryocystitis causes include –
- Sinus infections
- Trauma to the tear ducts
- Tumours in the sinuses
Symptoms-
Dacryocystitis symptoms for both acute and chronic dacryocystitis are –
- Redness and pain
- Pus secretion
- Watery eyes
- Irritation and discomfort to the eyes
Now that we have discussed dacryocystitis, let’s look at dacryocystitis surgery.
What is Dacryocystitis Surgery, and why you may need it?
As we discussed above, in chronic dacryocystitis, your tear ducts get blocked. Dacryocystitis surgery is done to create a new opening or tear drain between your eyes and nose. This drain connects the lacrimal sac to the nasal cavity, which creates a new path for the tears to flow and helps to clear out the mucus and bacterial accumulation.
Dacryocystitis surgery is only advised if the symptoms are severe. Before suggesting dacryocystitis surgery, your doctor will preferably go for more conservative treatment. It is only when the conservative treatment shows no result, then dacryocystitis surgery is taken into consideration.
However, not all blocked tear ducts can be treated with dacryocystitis surgery. The choice of treatment and surgery depends on the cause of the blockage. Your doctor will decide whether you need dacryocystitis surgery or not, depending on your condition. Your doctor will also discuss with you the type of dacryocystitis surgery that you want to go for.
There are two different ways in which dacryocystitis surgery is performed: external dacryocystitis surgery (more conventionally performed) or internal dacryocystitis surgery using a tube or implant which is inserted in the nasal cavity.
Dacryocystitis Surgery: Before and After!
After learning about dacryocystitis surgery, now let’s go through the things to consider before and after the surgery.
Before:
Make sure you:
- Talk thoroughly with your doctor about your condition and all the possible treatments.
- Make sure you know all the steps of the procedure with the potential risks and benefits before consenting.
- Make sure your doctor has a thorough knowledge of your medical and surgical history.
- Learn about the expected results of the surgery.
After:
During your recovery period, make sure that you are vigilant about your health.
- Follow your doctor’s instructions about the care that needs to be taken immediately post-surgery.
- You will also be prescribed some medications for pain that may follow after the surgery.
- You will have to go for a regular follow up so that your doctor has a record of your recovery and check any complications following the surgery.
- Consult your doctor if you experience any severe irritation or discomfort at the surgical site.
- Your doctor will also give you a thorough explanation about maintaining hygiene around your eyes and nose to prevent infections.
Dacryocystitis Surgery Risks
As with any other surgical procedure, dacryocystitis surgery also involves few risks. These risks may differ depending on the severity of your condition and the type of procedure performed.
Some commonly encountered risks after dacryocystitis surgery are-
- Abnormal fusion of the tissue
- Infection at the site of surgery
- Excessive bleeding post-surgery
- Displacement of the implant placed in the nasal cavity
Why choose Centre for Sight?
Centre for Sight is the largest chain of hospitals and clinics specialising in eye care. We have eye care centres all around the country with a team that will guide you through your consultations and treatment procedures.
At Centre for Sight, you will find only the best and most qualified doctors and healthcare professionals to provide you with the best eye care possible.
Article: What to Expect During a Dacryocystitis Surgery?
Author: CFS Editorial Team | May 01 2021 | UPDATED 03:00 IST
*The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his private capacity and do not in any way represent the views of Centre for Sight.
