The solution depends entirely on who has the blockage: an infant or an adult. In newborns, blocked tear ducts are incredibly common—affecting up to 20% of babies. The duct is often just narrow or has a thin, persistent membrane over the opening. Fortunately, most cases resolve on their own by the first birthday.

This is the modern, less-invasive hero. A tiny balloon catheter is inserted into the blocked duct. The balloon is inflated for 60-90 seconds, gently stretching the narrowed passage open. It’s quick, has a high success rate for certain types of blockages, and avoids incisions.

But what happens when that drain gets clogged? You’re left with watery, irritated eyes, sticky discharge, and sometimes even blurred vision. This is a blocked tear duct (dacryostenosis).

We usually think of tears as a response to emotion, but in reality, your eyes are bathed in a steady stream of them 24/7. This tear film keeps your eyes lubricated, healthy, and sharp. Normally, after sweeping across the eye, excess tears drain away through tiny channels (canaliculi) into a central sac (the lacrimal sac) and then down the nasolacrimal duct into your nose. That’s why you get a runny nose when you cry.