Dacriocystitis is an inflammation of the tear sac, which is the channel that leads to the tearing of the glands in which they occur towards the tear duct, for release. This inflammation is usually related to the blockage of the tear duct, called dacriosoneosis, which can occur from the presence of foreign bodies or as a result of an illness.
Dacriocystitis can be classified as acute or chronic depending on the symptoms present by the person and treatment should be indicated by the ophthalmologist, who usually indicates the use of eye drops for specific situations.
- The main cause of dacriocystitis is tear canal obstruction.
- Known as dacriostenosis.
- Which can promote the proliferation of bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus.
- Staphylococcus epidermidis.
- Streptococcus sp.
- Pneumococcus and Haemophilus influenzae.
- For example.
- Causing symptoms of dacriistitis.
This blockage can be congenital, i.e. the baby can already be born with a blocked tear duct, treatment is performed in the first months of life, or in the process of acquisition, that is, as a result of diseases such as lupus, Crohn’s disease, leprosy and lymphoma, for example. In addition, this may be due to trauma, such as rhinoplasty and nose fractures. Learn more about tear duct locking.
Symptoms of dacriocystitis may vary depending on the stage of the disease, i.e. whether it corresponds to acute or chronic dacriocystitis. The main symptoms associated with acute dacriocystitis are:
On the other hand, in the case of chronic dacriocystitis, inflammation does not cause an increase in local temperature and there is no pain, however a secretion cluster can be observed near the clogged tear canal, in addition to being also associated with conjunctivitis.
The diagnosis of dacriocystitis is made by the ophthalmologist by assessing the symptoms that the person presents. In some cases, your doctor may collect eye secretion to send to the lab, identifying the bacteria and may be indicated for the use of a specific antibiotic eye drops.
The ophthalmologist should recommend the treatment of dacriocistitis and is usually done with the use of eye drops, but depending on the severity of the dacriocystitis, surgery may be needed to unlock the tear canal. Your doctor may recommend the use of anti-inflammatory eye drops to relieve symptoms, and antibiotic eye drops, if necessary, to control the microorganism present. Learn about the types of eye drops your doctor may recommend.
In addition, in the case of acute dacriocystitis, it may be recommended to place a cold compress in the affected eye, as this helps reduce swelling and relieve symptoms. It is also important to maintain good eye hygiene, clean them with a saline solution, as well as avoid fingers and scratching.