Tearing & Tear Structure Problems at Baltimore Washington Eye Center serving greater Baltimore & Washington, D.C.

Tearing has many causes. It can result from overproduction of tears or an inability of the normal tears to drain out of the eye through the normal drainage pathway.  Oftentimes, secondary to repeated tear sac infections, trauma, or age-related narrowing of the tear duct, a blockage of the lacrimal (or tear drainage) system can result. In these patients, they often find themselves constantly wiping their eyes or they always appear to be crying in one or both eyes. This can be corrected with a surgery that creates a bypass that provides a new pathway for the tears to drain through; this procedure is called a Dacryocystorhinostomy. An abnormal positioning of the eyelids can also cause tearing, as the normal anatomy is required to direct the tears through the drainage pathway.  Interestingly, people with dry eyes often complain of tearing. This occurs as the backup tear production system of the eye will produce an over abundance of tears in an attempt to protect an eye that seems to be drying out.

Baltimore Washington Eye Center eye doctors have extensive experience in evaluating and treating all forms tearing as well as dry eye problems. When evaluating tearing or tear structure problems at Baltimore Washington Eye our eye doctors will listen closely to the patient’s symptoms and concerns and may need to perform additional testing, including irrigation of the tear ducts. If surgery is deemed the appropriate next step, they will explain the entire procedure and what to expect before and afterwards. In most cases, tear structure surgery can be performed on an outpatient basis in either in the Baltimore Washington Eye Surgery Center or in a hospital setting.

Patients with tearing who want to learn more about causes of tearing in the greater Baltimore or Washington D.C. area will find that Baltimore Washington Eye Center is has two convenient locations; Glen Burnie across from Baltimore Washington Medical Center and Clarksville, just minutes from Howard County General Hospital.

To schedule an appointment for examination or consultation for evaluation of tearing issues, please call us at 800-495-3937.