Understanding Your Eye Infection with Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction
I cannot provide you with a diagram, but I can describe what your eye infection likely looks like based on your history of nasolacrimal duct obstruction and recurrent infections.
What You're Likely Seeing
With nasolacrimal duct obstruction causing recurrent infections, your eye most likely shows purulent or mucopurulent discharge (thick yellow-white material), redness of the white part of your eye (bulbar conjunctival injection), and possible swelling around the inner corner of your eye near your nose where the tear duct is located. 1
Typical Clinical Features You May Notice:
Discharge characteristics:
- Thick, sticky discharge that may cause your eyelids to stick together, especially upon waking 1
- Yellow or greenish material collecting in the corner of your eye 1
- Mucoid (mucus-like) discharge that may be persistent 1
Visible redness and swelling:
- The white part of your eye appears pink or red (conjunctival injection) 1
- Possible eyelid swelling, particularly if you develop acute dacryocystitis (infection of the tear sac) 2, 3
- Swelling and tenderness over the lacrimal sac area (inner corner of eye near nose) if the infection involves the tear drainage system 4
Associated symptoms:
- Excessive tearing (epiphora) due to the blocked drainage system 3
- Crusting along the eyelid margins 1
- Possible skin irritation around the eye from constant moisture 5
Why This Happens with Your Condition
Nasolacrimal duct obstruction creates a perfect environment for bacterial overgrowth because tears cannot drain properly, leading to stagnant fluid that becomes infected. 1, 2
The blockage in your tear drainage system means:
- Tears accumulate and cannot flow through the normal pathway into your nose 3
- Bacteria multiply in the stagnant tear fluid 2
- This leads to recurrent bacterial conjunctivitis with purulent discharge 1, 2
- In severe cases, the lacrimal sac itself can become infected (dacryocystitis), causing a visible swelling or even abscess formation at the inner corner of your eye 4
Critical Warning Signs to Watch For
Seek immediate medical attention if you develop:
- Marked eyelid swelling with severe pain 1
- Fever accompanying your eye symptoms 4
- Vision changes or blurred vision 1
- Severe purulent discharge that rapidly worsens 1
- A visible lump or abscess forming near the inner corner of your eye 4
These could indicate progression to acute dacryocystitis or more serious complications that require urgent intervention 1, 4.
What Your Doctor Will Look For
Your ophthalmologist will examine:
- The character and amount of discharge 1
- Degree of conjunctival redness 1
- Corneal involvement using fluorescein staining (to ensure the infection hasn't spread to your cornea) 6
- Palpation of the lacrimal sac area to check for tenderness or swelling 3
- Whether the obstruction is complete or partial through irrigation testing 2, 3
The key distinction with your condition is that unlike simple viral conjunctivitis that resolves on its own, your recurrent infections stem from the underlying mechanical obstruction that prevents proper tear drainage. 2, 3