Lacrimal Stents

In some children, probing alone may not be enough to open the tear duct, especially if the blockage is severe or complex, or if a previous attempt was unsuccessful.

In these cases, we may need to insert a stent into the tear duct.

The stent is a thin, flexible tube that is placed inside the tear duct to help keep it open during the healing period, allowing tears to drain naturally and increasing the chances of successful treatment.

When do we use a stent?

We may need to insert a stent in cases such as:

• Previous probing attempt was unsuccessful.
• Severe or complex blockage.
• Narrowing of a part of the tear duct.
• Certain cases where the likelihood of blockage recurrence is higher.
• Chronic inflammation of the tear sac.

Are all tear duct stents the same?

No. There are several types of tear duct stents, and the choice of stent depends on the nature of the blockage and the child's condition.

Generally, the stents used in children can be divided into two main types:

• Monocanalicular stents: pass through one tear duct.
• Bicanalicular stents: pass through both the upper and lower tear ducts, and are used in certain cases depending on the nature of the blockage and the need for greater support of the tear duct.
• Therefore, there is no single stent suitable for all children, and the type of stent and its insertion method are chosen based on the child's age, location and nature of the blockage, probing outcome, and whether previous treatment has been administered.

Is the stent left in permanently?

No.

The stent is temporary, and remains in the tear duct for a period determined by the ophthalmologist based on the child's age, nature of the blockage, and type of stent used, after which it is removed.

Does the insertion of a stent mean the condition is serious?

The presence of a stent does not necessarily mean the condition is serious, but rather that the tear duct needs additional support to help keep it open during the recovery period.

The goal of this is to increase the chances of successful treatment and reduce the likelihood of needing more complex surgical procedures.

The choice of treatment method depends on several factors, most importantly the child's age, location of the blockage, its nature, severity, and whether the child has undergone previous treatment.