It is the inflammation, acute or chronic, of the lacrimal sac, located between the internal angle of the eye and the nose.
Dacryocystitis is most often due to obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct that connects the lacrimal sac to the nose. This obstruction, linked to an infection or chronic irritation, causes a stoppage in the flow of tears and this stasis promotes infection of the lacrimal sac.
This type of pathology is found in newborns or in elderly people over 60 years of age. In the elderly, it is an aging of the tear ducts with a decrease in the permeability of the channels which can lead to the cessation of the elimination of tears. The tears end up becoming superinfected.
Symptoms:
Acute dacryocystitis presents as a rounded, red, hot, painful swelling located between the inner corner of the eye and the wing of the nose, and with watering.
If an abscess forms, the center of the swelling becomes soft, whitish, with thinning of the skin.
Chronic dacryocystitis causes tearing and a mucocele (cyst containing mucus) in the lacrimal sac, a firm, painless mass that, when pressed, causes mucus to escape through the lacrimal opening.
Treatment :
The case of the infant was discussed in the chapter blocked lacrimal duct in infants.
In all cases, treatment by the Ophthalmologist must be early.
In elderly people: antiseptic eye drops in regular treatment who complain of chronic watering eyes.
The acute stage requires surgical intervention accompanied by oral and local antibiotic treatment.
It is based on a dacryocystorhinostomy (surgical unblocking of the nasolacrimal duct), which consists of connecting the lacrimal sac and the nasal cavity through a large opening in the bony wall and connecting the lacrimal sac to the nasal mucosa, thus bypassing the blocked nasolacrimal duct.
In acute dacryocystitis, the abscess may need to be opened by making an incision, with surgical drainage and administration of antibiotics.