The side effects and complications arising from my DCR surgery affect me every day, and likely will for the rest of my life. I tell my story on the main pages of this site (Introduction, Part One, Part Two), but the reality is that the story continues to unfold every day. Each month brings new hopes, new troubles, and new realizations. I’d like to share my continuing journey with you. This blog will be the medium I use to achieve this.
Here, you’ll find information about my path to recovery and my steps to correct my complications. You’ll also find useful information about treatments for both dry eye and watery eye, DCR surgery, new studies, important definitions, and so on. With permission, I may also repost the stories of others who wish to share their experiences with DCR surgery or non-surgical interventions for watery eye. There are so many of us out there suffering, and so many others who have found success. Lets all share our experiences to help each other, both physically and mentally. Please use the contact page to get in touch.
Thank you so much for your support and interest. Together, we can make a difference.
– George Parker
I wrote you probably a year ago. I am still bothered with a weepy right eye and have been for @ four years. I am waiting for modern technology to come up with something different than the DCR surgery. In all my research…..I am still not finding anything. I do know of an eye professional in Japan who does lacrimal endoscopy. It is actually called Lacrimal Endoscope Transcanalicular Endoscopy. It takes about 12 minutes to do and you aren’t even asleep. He can’t find anyone in USA that is interested in learning the technique even. Do you know of anything out there? I can’t find any doctor willing to do anything besides the DCR. Maybe since I wrote last….you may have a new idea.
Hi Ruthie,
I had a look at this procedure and it only slightly differs from DCR in terms of what route they use to create a hole in your nasal bone. Rather than go in through the nose, the go in through the lower canaliculus and rather than use a drill they use a laser to cut through the bone. Bottom line, it’s still the same surgery. It has a poorer success rate too at 69%.
I know it’s difficult to find anyone to use stenting, balloon dilatation or probing. They are all hell bent on going for the most invasive technique first. What ever happened to the doctors creed, “first do no harm”. Surgery should be the LAST option.
You can fall for their persistent DCR recommendations and suffer possible consequences, or continue to pursue a doctor willing to work with you and your willingness to be cautious.
Hello George,
I just wanted to thank you for all the good info in your blog. Thanks lots!
I don’t know if you recall my situation, I wanted your advice please. I’ve had problems over several years getting the left lower punctum to stay open. After the 1st doctor tried to perform a 2 snip that was a success for a few months it closed again. I was referred to octoplastic (sp?) surgeon in my area who was able to syringe and open both upper on lower ducts. After about a year to closed off and she inserted a Rietling tube running through both the upper & lower punctum. Once healed the tube allowed the tears to wick around the tubing and give me some relief. I wanted to leave in the tubing, but after about 9 months the surgeon wanted to remove the tubing. About 2-3 weeks after removing they closed off again. I persuaded her to please put the tubing back in before trying a Jones tube and she agreed. She wanted to take the tubing out in 3-6 months because of concerns of scar tissue. In the meantime, I went to see a surgeon at MUSC in Charleston, SC (an 1 1/2 hr drive) with the tubing in place who told me he had patients who had left the tubes in for months, even years without any problems, and he told me the risks involved in doing this. The tubes have a been in now almost six months and I would like to leave them in indefinitely as he suggested.
I go back to see him the day after tomorrow for a check up, I would appreciate your opinion.
Would you leave them in a while longer or remove them at some point?
Thanks!
Marsha G.
Hi Marsha,
It seems your body likes to heal and close wounds rapidly. That’s a good thing since you heal from wounds easier. However, it’s not so good in this situation where you need something to remain open.
I had a similar situation to you. When I had my DCR I got severe dry eye from it and asked the surgeon to REVERSE the operation. In reality, there’s nothing that can be done. But he did suggest that we have to replace what was taken out if we want a reversal. The answer was to put the bicanicular tubing back in, so it’s through the upper and lower puncta. The idea was to leave it there permanently. Therefore I cannot see why you can’t leave your current tubing in for longer.
The second doctor whom suggested it’s okay to leave it in permanently was probably less conservative than the previous doctor. It’s a catch 22. Your puncta keeps closing and the tubing keeps it open. So it makes sense to leave it there. If it was going to scar, it would have done so by now.
Hope that helps.
George, Thanks for your quick response. I did not find your reply immediately, I have since bookmarked it. I hope you are doing well.
Yes, I would like to leave the tubes in, the lower puncta tubing is starting to “cheesewire” or move closer to the inner corner of the eye.
The Dr. said we should just keep watching it and to leave it in unless it’s too uncomfortable. It does sometime feel a bit irritated, I guess I will try some sort of lubricant a couple times per day.
If you or anyone has any ideas or thoughts, please share.
Thanks so much,
Marsha
Hi Marsha,
Thanks for the feedback about not being able to find my reply easily. It’s something I’ll discuss with my website developer. I’m currently beginning to learn how to build WordPress websites but time is limited. There’s always so much to do and only 24 hours in a day. Sometimes I wonder why we need to sleep!
Indeed, you can leave the tubes in! The only problem, as you pointed out is the feeling of “irritation” and possible movement and the “cheesewire” effect. I recall I didn’t like the feeling of the tubing and couldn’t wait to have it removed on the sixth week. However, using ‘chlorsig ointment‘ helped by providing more ‘glide’ and had an anti-itching effect. Chlorsig ointment is only for very short term use.
I’ve received thousands of emails asking what treatment to use for both tearing and dry eye. There are many solutions and I’ve replied to each email with what product and optometry treatment I recommend. However, what I plan on doing is placing links on this site so viewers can go directly to the product I’ve ‘tried and tested’ and which has been validated by other users and research. It would make it so much easier for my website viewers (and save me a lot of writing). It’s a plan I have for this site, yet to be organized.
What I recommend for you Marsha is an alternative to Chlorsig ointment. The product needs to be ‘thick’ and thus an ‘ointment’ based because it provides lubrication and takes longer to evaporate than liquid. I personally like “Poly Visc – Preservative free ointment” by Alcon. Just apply it to the inner corner of your eye.
I’d also suggest a steroid drop to be used sparingly, may-be twice a week. It’s to prevent possible infection and to also provide anti-itching relief. It’s recommended you have occasional ‘glaucoma’ check ups when using steroid drops. There’s a narrow window you can use it and stay safe, and used it enough to provide significant benefits.
To provide’on demand’ relief when irritation occurs, keep some lubrication drops with you. I personally like “Hylo-Forte” (Hyaluronate, 2mg/ml) and Thera tear drops or gel. I always carry a bottle of Hylo-Forte where ever I go.
I also suggest taking supplements such as fish and flaxseed oils to reduce inflammation. So you tackle it from the inside and out. Make sure you are eating a healthy diet and drinking plenty of clean filtered water. Keep hydrated!
If you can no longer tolerate the tubing, or if complications occur, there is another solution. It’s a procedure I had done myself as suggested by an oculoplastic surgeon. It was placement of “Mini-Monaka stents” in the lower canaliculus. The procedure was done under a general anaesthetic. It didn’t quite work out for me because I developed inflammation under one of the stents that ‘pushed’ it out. Then I voluntarily wanted the other stent removed. It’s something to consider and you need a surgeon who thinks outside of the box. I consulted at least half a dozen oculoplastic surgeons and went with those that put more “thought” and creativity into finding solutions.
Marsha, please keep us all informed about your progress. I hope you find some relief and comfort soon!
Hello George, my name is Malinda. I’ve had a very weepy right eye since August 2015. Saw 2 different ocular surgeons that said I needed DCR. I scheduled surgery then cancelled after doing some research. I was feeling very uneasy about it. I found your blog very informative. I felt I needed to find out where my blockage was located so made an appt with an ENT. I had a bad infection in my tear duct area at the time. My 1st infection since the onset of blockage. He did a CT scan to rule out any sinus issues that may be contributing plus put me on antibiotics and Flonase. Results showed sinus infection and a large cyst at the Hasner valve. It is not common. I was so relieved to find out what has been causing my blockage and tearing! I have surgery in 10 days to open up and hopefully remove the cyst. The ENT suggested to have a stent like what’s used in DCR surgery put in at the same time. He does not perform that type of insertion and an eye surgeon would need to come in. I don’t feel I need a stent placed. The surgery at this point is without the stent insertion.
I’d love your advice or opinion on having a stent or not. Thanks for your time!
Sincerely, Malinda
Hi Malinda,
Why don’t you feel you need the stent placed? Is it because you believe the ‘cyst’ is causing the blockage? Well, you could be correct! So go ahead and have the cyst removed and see if the tearing returns!.
If the tearing returns I’d be looking at alternatives to DCR such as the stent.
Good luck! and let us know how you get on.
Hi George,
I had surgery yesterday to remove the cyst close to my nose. Home recovering now. The ENT surgeon said he was able to get all of the cyst! No tearing at this point. I’m very hopeful this solves my blockage. If my tearing returns, I will look at having a stent inserted at some point. I’m very glad I did not feel good about having my earlier scheduled DCR. If so, I’d still have the cyst which could have continued to grow and cause more problems. I highly suggest to anyone looking at having DCR to have a CT scan to rule out sinus issues or growths that could be causing their blockage and tearing.
Thank you for your time, Malinda
I’m glad the surgery went well for you. Let’s hope the tearing remains clear.
Interestingly, it’s typical for most eye surgeons NOT to recommend a CT scan for the blockage. They just do a saline syringe test. If regurgitation occurs, and you don’t feel it in your throat they deem a blockage….and immediately recommend DCR.
They make NO attempt to locate exactly what is “causing” the blockage and don’t care where it’s located.
So your initiative to have a CT scan was exactly the right thing to do!
I am glad I did some reading up on DCR and found your site. It greatly influenced my decision to seek out why I had a blockage! I don’t quite understand why this is not recommended by the eye surgeons. I was told by the two I saw that only mentioned I needed DCR surgery. Neither of them said anything about finding where the blockage was located.
I appreciate your response and concern. I hope others will benefit as I did from reading your website.
Thanks again, Malinda
My DCA did not work because I have Lymphoma cells which are plugging the tear duct. I went in yesterday to have the plastic tube removed from my nose and also the tube in my eye. I am unable to get the tube to come out of my nose, in fact, it has disappeared. During the 6 months that I had it in, I could feel the string attached to the bottom of the tube, but as soon as she cut the tube in my eye, I tried to blow my nose hard for it to come out and it has disappeared. Now I know it can’t go too far, but what is the result of my note being able to get it out by blowing my nose. Should I have someone tried to find it for me? It is a real puzzle. It’s like when she cut the tube in my eye that the plastic tube went way back in my nose and will not come out. Any Suggestions?