Blocked Tear Ducts - Exams and Tests
A blocked tear duct is diagnosed based on a medical history, a physical exam, and other testing as needed.
Tests for children and adults may include:
Eye Exams in Your Baby's First Year
An eye exam -- in your baby's first year? Absolutely. Children should have age-appropriate assessments for eye problems in the newborn period, and at all subsequent doctor visits. Premature babies, or those with a family history of congenital cataracts, eye tumors, and genetic disease, should be seen by an eye specialist in the nursery. All babies should be examined by age 6 months to be sure each eye focuses, the eyes are straight, and there is no internal eye disease. Treating eye conditions...
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- Fluorescein dye disappearance test. This is often used to find out whether tears are draining normally through the tear ducts from the eye into the nose.
- Culture and sensitivity test. This test helps the doctor find out whether infection is present. It may be done if mucus or pus is visible.
Additional tests are sometimes used, although usually only with adults. These tests may include:
- A Schirmer test, used to find out whether the tear glands are producing the normal amount of tears. Special small, soft paper strips are placed in the corner of the person's eyes for about 5 minutes to see how many tears are produced.
- Probing to find out if the duct is blocked. The area is numbed with a local anesthetic before the probe is inserted
- Imaging tests, such as computed tomography (CT scan) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head. Imaging tests may be done to locate the site and structural cause of the tear duct blockage.
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