Topic Resources
Canaliculitis is inflammation
(usually caused by infection) of the canaliculus. The canaliculus is a
short channel near the inner corner of the eyelid through which tears
drain into the tear sac.
Canaliculitis may cause tearing, discharge, red eye, and mild
tenderness. Redness and tenderness are most prominent at the side of the
eyelid near the nose. The symptoms can resemble those of
dacryocystitis.
dacryocystitis.
Where Tears Come From
|
Diagnosis
-
Symptoms and a doctor's examination
A doctor bases the diagnosis of canaliculitis on the symptoms and
examination findings. A cloudy material can be expressed from the
canaliculus when the doctor presses on it or the tear sac.
Treatment
-
Removal of infected material and irrigation by an ophthalmologist
-
Warm compresses and antibiotic eye drops
An ophthalmologist (a medical doctor who specializes in the evaluation and treatment—surgical and nonsurgical—of eye disorders) can often try to remove infected material from the canaliculus and then irrigate the infected canaliculus with an antibiotic solution. People should then apply warm compresses and use antibiotic eye drops. Occasionally, the infection requires surgical treatment to remove any blockage from the canaliculus.
Using Eye Drops and Eye Ointments
|
The person receiving the drop or ointment should lean back and
look up. With a clean forefinger, the lower eyelid is gently pulled down
to create a pocket. Eye drops are then dropped into the pocket, not
directly onto the eye. When using eye ointments, a small strip of
ointment is placed in the pocket. Blinking distributes the drop or
ointment over the eye.
 |
Posts
0 Comments