Surgery for Blocked Tear Duct

Hi J.. My daughter just had a tear duct probing on Feb. 14th. She was 17 months old at the time. Unfortunately the probing didn't permanetly open the duct so she is now facing the same surgery your daughter is having at the end of April. We were told the same thing as you wrote. Having gone through the first one with anesthesia I can tell you it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The worst part was the nurses having to hold the mask on her face to put her to sleep but it only took about 30 seconds and then she was out. She woke up with no problems and we were actually discharged in less than an hour from her procedure. I've been told that the stint will take a little longer to place but only about 30-45 minutes so not horribly long. We also have complete confidence in our opthomologist but it's never easy to see your child go through this. It is a good idea to have it done if the duct shows no sign of opening. Please let me know how your daughter does. Feel free to contact me privately if you would like to exchange notes further!
Good Luck
Amy

1 mom found this helpful

My daughter had the probing done originally and it worked for one eye but not the other. She then had to go back in to have the stent put in. She's had it in since October and should have it out by May. It really doesn't seem to bother her. We were worried that she would pull it out or that it could be seen or that she would be in pain but none of this happened. Our opthamologist also specializes in it (he's at Fair Oaks in VA) and she loves him and so do we. We had a worse experience with her coming out of anesthesia after the probing. After she got the stent it was a piece of cake. It's been nice not to have gunky and tearing eyes. She was 19 months old when the stent was put in. Good luck! Let us know how everything goes.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi J.
This is a routine operation for the Docter but they always for get that isn't routine for you. The do anesthesia so your child won't see what they are doing. Its hard enough for an adult to hold still which hardly ever happens either, when you see something coming close to your eye you atomaticly close you eye or blink and the Dr can't have that happen when he opens the tear duct and put the stint in place. The stint works well the Dr. is right when he told you that she won't hurt with the stint in. Her eye will be able to tear up and not hurt. Hope this helps. Good luck with the surgery.

Don't worry. My mother has one in permanently. It took 2 minutes to put in, and she said she doesn't feel it at all (she did for the first few hours because it was new, but then nothing). I am assuming your child will have drugs simply to keep from moving during a delicate procedure around the eye. Good luck!

My 6 mo old will be going at the end of the month to have her tear duct opened. She will not be having the stint unless the first procedure doesn't correct it.

Soooo, I can't really give a head's up on what to expect, but from my reading, research and what I have heard from other mom's is that it is pretty routine. A little drowsy the day of surgery, but probably back to normal the next day.

I do have one friend whose daughter has had 4 eye related surgeries due to another issue and she said the first one was the worst not knowing what to expect and she probably overstressed herself worrying about it. My best advice would be to think happy thoughts and to stay happy, in good spirits with your daughter. It always amazes me what my children pick up from my ques.

Good luck.

My DD who is now 5 had the surgery when she was about the same age. First it was a "probe" to open the clogged duct but unfortunately that didn't help it to stay open. So then we went back in two more time for the "shunt" in the tear duct surgery. Thankfully third times a charm because it worked. My DD did fine through the surgeries my only issue was her coming out of the anesthesia very very CRANKY! She was inconsolable and screamed. I hope I don't scare you but it is super common for them to be very upset afterwards. SHe was confused and didn't really know what was going on. No pain though which was what I was worried about. Later that night though she was back to her old self.

Good luck!

Hi J. - I'm J. too! I am a mom of two children - our boy is almost 4 and our baby girl is almost 1 (!!). Both of my children had clogged tear ducts. Our son's eyes resolved on their own - maybe around 1. Our daughter's, however, were worse. We did not have a stint put in, but around 8 months, she had them both cleared with probes. They did local anesthesia. I know the procedure you're having is totally different - but I'm just writing to say that it's SO wonderful that we had it done. Honestly, it was quite difficult for me, for although a VERY quick procedure to have the ducts cleared, and although the physician had me leave the room, I did hear Gracie...but she QUICKLY was happy again and her eyes have been clear and NON-GUNKY since (oh, were they ever gunky!!). I hope this helped even a bit!
Good luck!
J. S

My son had surgery for a blocked tear duct when he 11 months old (he is now 15 mos). The doctors did not mention the stint though-so he did not have that part. The surgery was so quick that I did not even have a chance to open a magazine and drink a cup of coffee. My son was a little groggy following the surgery but I was right next to him when he woke up. There were no adverse side affects and you would not even know what he had done later that day. I honestly got more worked up about it than he ever did.

How did your daughter's surgery go?? I'm guessing that it has been done because of the date you posted your question??

My son is getting the same surgery this Thursday 5/22/08. I'm a little worried about it and would like to talk to someone that has been through it.....

J. P

Hello J.,
My daughter, which is 9 years old now, had issues with her tear duct since she was 9 months old. She was in and out of the hospital for IV antibiotics until she was 5years old. The tear duct kept becoming infected. They did several different types of surgeries that didn't seem to help. When he was 5 they finally decided to put in a stint. I wish they would have done this first! we have not had a problem since! They do have to drill a tiny hole in the nasal bone. The funny is that now every time my daughter blows her knows she can feel the air come out the corner of of her eye, where the stint was!

I think getting the surgery done now would benefit your child now rather then having continous problems. Good Luck! BD

My neighbors granddaughter had that done. She was about the same age. It was a breeze. Everything is fine now and she is turning 2 next month.

My daughter, now 8, had this done when she was over 2yo. The first time she went to have it checked she was having a "good eye" day and no tears or green stuff stuck to her eyelashes. So they told me that it had resolved itself, but it hadn't. SHe had the surgery and everything went fine...took a little too long to wake up from the anethesia (I know that isn't spelt right LOL), but she smiled and hopped on Daddy's lap and hugged him right away and all was well from then on after. Don't worry! She'll be fine and the better for it. My daughter's eye has not oozed since and has been clear and no infections since. Good luck.