Lacrimal Canaliculitis - Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

What Is Lacrimal Canaliculitis?

Lacrimal canaliculitis is the infection of the eyes' lacrimal duct (passage through which the tear passes). The lacrimal sac is where the tears are stored. Tears pass through this canal to enter the eye. Tears assume a significant part in preventing eye diseases. They have hostile bacterial properties that assist in preventing various infectious diseases of the eyes. The lacrimal organs are present in the upper eyelids. Tears help keep the eyes hydrated, clean, and clear from infections. The lacrimal organs under the upper eyelids produce tears, which travel through little openings to the front of the eye. Each time when we blink, tears spread across our eyes. The old fluid drains through a puncta channel toward the edges of the upper and lower eyelids. This permits the secretion of new tears. Then it travels through the nasolacrimal sac into the tear conduit and the back of the nose. Assuming that this tear duct is infected, tears might aggregate in the channel instead of depleting. This aggregation might pave the way for more bacterial development. The infection of the lacrimal sac can be acute or chronic in nature. The side effects of this condition can be like other eye diseases. This condition can happen in one or two eyes.

How Common Is Lacrimal Canaliculitis?

Lacrimal canaliculitis most commonly affects children who have blocked tear ducts. This condition is referred to as congenital dacryocystitis. Tear drainage infection is also more common among women due to narrow facial features. This condition occurs in older women compared to younger ones.

What Are the Causes of Lacrimal Canaliculitis?

Lacrimal canaliculitis could occur due to blockage of the tear ducts. This could be due to:

1. Nasal Polyps: Nasal polyps are non-cancerous growth inside the nose—this blocks the tear drainage system, leading to infection.

2. Injury: Any injury to the face or the nose can cause breakage of the bony fragments. These broken bony pieces can obstruct the lacrimal canal or duct, leading to tearing stagnation. This may, in turn, lead to canaliculitis.

3. Foreign Body: Any foreign body in the lacrimal sac could lead to stagnation of the tears due to blockage. This can lead to bacterial infection or canaliculitis.

4. Sinusitis: Sinusitis is the inflammation of the sinus cavity. Sometimes when the sinus cavity is infected, it could lead to tearing duct blockage, which may, in turn, lead to an infection.

5. Tumor: Any tumor in the lacrimal pathway can cause blockage of the duct. This can lead to infection of the lacrimal gland.

6. Deviated Septum: It refers to the condition where the wall separating the nostrils deviates. This can cause blockage and infection of the tear duct.

7. Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy: It is a condition where the swelling of the bony part occurs. This helps to humidify the air. This swelling may block the tear drainage leading to infection.

What Are the Types of Lacrimal Canaliculitis?

Lacrimal canaliculitis can be either acute or chronic:

• Acute Infection: Acute infection of the tear duct may develop suddenly. It may be accompanied by pain, pus drainage, and swelling. Antibiotics may give relief from this condition.

• Chronic Infection: In chronic infection, the condition may develop slowly over a period of time. The symptoms may be less severe compared to the acute variant. This type of infection usually presents with pain in the corner of the eye.

What Are the Symptoms of Lacrimal Canaliculitis?

The symptoms of this lacrimal canaliculitis may include:

1. Pain: The tear duct infection has pain as one of its symptoms. This pain usually occurs in the eye's corner towards the nose. The pain may be localized in the areas of the tear duct.

2. Redness: The tear duct infection is associated with the redness of the eye. The redness is due to inflammation due to bacterial infection.

3. Swelling: A tear duct infection may be associated with swelling of the lacrimal duct. This swelling usually presents itself in the upper eyelid and the corner of the eye.

4. Watery Eye: The eyes may be watery due to the blocked tear ducts.

5. Pus Discharge: This infection is typically associated with pus drainage of the eyes. This is a characteristic feature of bacterial infection.

6. Fever: Tear duct infection may be associated with fever due to the underlying infection.

7. Excessive Tearing: Excessive tearing could be one of the symptoms of tear drainage infection. Excessive tearing may be caused due to the blocked tear duct.

How to Diagnose Lacrimal Canaliculitis?

Lacrimal canaliculitis could be diagnosed by a physician by evaluating the clinical features and symptoms of the patient. Other than evaluating the symptoms such as swelling and redness, the doctor may check for the following:

1. The doctor may collect the pus by pressing on the lacrimal sac. The pus so collected may be sent for bacterial culture. Based on the cultural results, the doctor may give appropriate treatment.

2. The doctor may perform something called a dye disappearance test. A yellow color dye will be placed at the corner of the eye. In the case of a normal duct, the dye will disappear in a few minutes. In the case of a blocked duct, the dye will continue to be present in the eye. To check for partial or complete blockage, the doctor may insert a swab in the nose. If the dye has passed through the nose, it may be referred to as a partial blockage.

How to Treat Lacrimal Canaliculitis?

Tear duct infections can be treated using antibiotics. Antibiotics help clear up bacterial infections. The antibiotics can be prescribed either in drop form or as tablets. In case of severe infections, IV (intravenous) drugs may also be prescribed. Once the infection clears up, the procedure to clear the ductal blockage may be undertaken. This is small surgery performed through endoscopy. The duct may be widened using small equipment. Widening the duct allows the tears to drain effectively.

What Are the Complications of Lacrimal Canaliculitis?

Acute infections can become chronic if appropriate treatment is not given. It may spread through other parts of the body such as the eye socket and the brain. This infection can even turn into septicemia.

How to Prevent Lacrimal Canaliculitis?

Tear duct infection can be prevented by maintaining cleanliness. Hand hygiene plays a very important role in preventing infection. In case of recurrent eye infections, treatment should be obtained at the earliest to prevent it from becoming chronic and its complications.

Conclusion:

Tear duct infection occurs due to tear duct blockage. It may be caused due to bacteria. When given appropriate treatment this condition recovers quickly and its complications can also be prevented. If it is a recurrent phenomenon, appropriate treatment should be given at the earliest to prevent it from turning chronic.