A lacrimal stent helps individuals with tear drainage issues. These small devices help tears flow properly from the eye into the nasal cavity, addressing problems such as excessive tearing, recurring infections, and irritation. By keeping the tear ducts open, lacrimal stents restore the natural process of tear drainage, alleviating symptoms and improving eye health.
What Lacrimal Stents Are
Lacrimal stents are small, tube-like medical devices designed to maintain the patency of the tear drainage system. They are made from flexible materials like silicone. These stents come in various shapes and sizes, including monocanalicular stents, which are inserted into one tear duct, and bicanalicular stents, which are used in both tear ducts for more complex obstructions.
The primary function of a lacrimal stent is to act as a temporary scaffold, keeping the tear ducts from narrowing or closing. Tears normally drain from the eye through tiny openings called puncta, then travel through small passages into the lacrimal sac, and finally down the nasolacrimal duct into the nose. When this pathway is blocked, the stent helps to maintain an open channel, allowing tears to drain effectively.
Why a Lacrimal Stent is Needed
A lacrimal stent becomes necessary when the tear drainage system becomes obstructed. This blockage, known as nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO), can be present from birth or develop later. When tears cannot drain properly, they overflow onto the cheek, a condition called epiphora, which is the most common symptom of NLDO.
Beyond excessive tearing, a blocked tear duct can also lead to other symptoms. Patients may experience a gooey or crusty buildup on their eyelids and eyelashes, frequent eye rubbing, and redness or swelling around the tear duct. The stagnant tears can also increase the risk of recurrent infections, such as dacryocystitis, an inflammation of the lacrimal sac that can cause pain, swelling, and pus around the eye. Causes of NLDO can include chronic infections leading to scar tissue, facial trauma, or narrow tear ducts.
The Stent Insertion Procedure
The insertion of a lacrimal stent is a straightforward, minimally invasive outpatient procedure. Before the procedure begins, local anesthesia is administered to numb the area. In some cases, especially for children or more complex situations, general anesthesia may be used.
The surgeon carefully inserts a thin, flexible tube through the natural tear duct openings (puncta) in the corner of the eye. Specialized instruments are used to guide the stent through the tear drainage system and into the nasal cavity. The stent is then positioned to bypass the obstruction and create a new pathway for tears to drain. This process does not usually involve external incisions on the face.
Life After Stent Insertion and Removal
After a lacrimal stent has been inserted, patients often receive post-operative care. This includes using prescribed antibiotic eye drops or ointment for about a week to prevent infection and promote healing. Some minor bloody drainage from the nose may occur for a few days, which is normal.
Patients might experience mild discomfort, soreness, or a gritty feeling in the eyes for a few days. It is important to avoid rubbing the inner corner of the eye, forceful nose blowing, or picking at the tube, as these actions could dislodge the stent and reduce success. While complications are uncommon, watch for persistent tearing, new or increased pain, significant redness or swelling, or visible displacement of the stent, such as a loop of tubing protruding from the corner of the eye. If the stent appears dislodged, do not pull it out but contact the doctor’s office.
A lacrimal stent is usually left for about 2 to 9 months, with a common range being 3 to 6 months. This allows the tear duct to heal and remain open, creating a stable drainage pathway. The removal of the stent is a simple procedure, often performed in the doctor’s office. Depending on the type of stent, it can be removed either through the nostril or by gently pulling it out through the puncta in the eye, sometimes after applying numbing eye drops.