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Dacryocystitis is an infection of the lacrimal sac, the small pocket between the inner corner of the eye and the nose that collects tears before they drain. It happens when the tear duct becomes blocked, trapping bacteria and causing swelling, pain, and discharge. The condition can be acute or chronic, and though usually not serious, it can be very uncomfortable if untreated.
read more about dacryocystitis ...This condition develops when the nasolacrimal duct becomes blocked, preventing normal tear drainage. The trapped tears allow bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pneumoniae to grow inside the sac. In adults, nasal inflammation or sinus infection is a common cause. In newborns, the tear duct may not have fully opened yet. Facial injury, nasal polyps, or past surgery can also contribute.
Both types result from tear duct blockage but differ in duration and severity.
Common symptoms include redness and tenderness near the inner corner of the eye, swelling, tearing, and sticky discharge. In severe cases, the eyelid may become inflamed, and fever can develop. Newborns with dacryocystitis often show constant tearing or a small lump at the inner corner of the eye.
Doctors diagnose dacryocystitis by examining the tear sac area and checking tear drainage. Mild cases are treated with warm compresses and antibiotic drops or pills. If the infection is severe or recurrent, a procedure called dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) creates a new drainage pathway between the eye and nose. In infants, gentle massage and tear duct probing often resolve the problem as the duct opens naturally.
Mild cases sometimes improve with warm compresses, but medical treatment prevents complications.
No, the infection is localized and does not spread from person to person.
They should not be worn during infection, as lenses can irritate the eye or trap bacteria.
If you have a painful, red swelling near the inner corner of your eye or excessive tearing, seek medical care. Infected tear sacs require antibiotics to prevent the infection from spreading into the surrounding facial tissue.
AAO. What is Dacryocystitis? (aao.org). 2024.
Mayo Clinic. Tear duct infection (mayoclinic.org). 2023.
Healthline. Dacryocystitis Symptoms (healthline.com). 2024.
Cleveland Clinic. Dacryocystitis Treatment (clevelandclinic.org). 2024.