Michael J. Hawes, M. D., F.A.C.S. | home
Excessive Tearing | Thyroid Related Eye Disease | Orbital Tumors | Lid turned in or out | Blepharoptosis or droopy eyelid | Skin Cancers | Loss of an Eye | Fractures | Trauma | Birth Defects | Blepharospasm
Excessive Tearing
Below is a sketch of the tear ducts, which normally drain tears away from the eye and into the nose. When there is a blockage of the ducts, the tears cannot drain properly and instead accumulate by the eye. This can be a nuisance and sometimes may result in infections of the tear sac and a recurring pink eye. Surgery is usually necessary when the tear ducts are completely blocked. This can often be done on an outpatient basis in about one hour with local anesthesia and sedation. The success rate for dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is 90-95% with a single operation. Dr. Hawes has performed more than
2000 of these operations. The operation can sometimes be performed without a skin incision, though it is more often done with a small (1/2 inch)
incision. Dr. Hawes also places and repairs Jones tubes, which are
permanent indwelling Pyrex glass tubes placed to drain the tears when other
procedures fail to provide sufficient relief.
Shown below is the location of the skin incision and the appearance of the scar eight months after the surgery. The scar is minimal in this patient, as is typically the case.
850 East Harvard Avenue #345
Denver, Colorado 80210
303-698-2424
303-698-2430 FAX