Tearing & Lacrimal Surgery

If you have frequent or constant excess tearing, Dr. Levin provides an evaluation and lacrimal surgery to help correct this problem. Schedule a consultation at her Westport office to discuss your available options.

Tears help protect the eye and keep it moist. Sometimes the ducts that allow tears to drain can become malpositioned or blocked, resulting in excessive tears or watery eyes. The blockages can typically be found in one of three areas, including the duct in the nose, the small drain in the eyelid, or the drain opening in the eyelid margin.

Excessive Tearing Causes Your Treatment The Risks Your Doctor Your Recovery Your Consultation

What Causes Excessive Tearing?

Excessive tearing can result from an imbalance between tear production and tear drainage. Excess tear production often results from dry eye or unhealthy tear film. Insufficient drainage may be from abnormal tear duct position or narrowing or obstruction along the lacrimal drainage pathway, starting from the eyelid and ending in the nose.

How Is Excessive Tearing Treated?

The first step is a non-invasive in-office evaluation with Dr. Levin so she can localize the problem. When a blockage is present, surgical treatments ranging from the widening of the tear ducts to endoscopic nasal surgery can offer improvement. Dr. Levin is one of the few surgeons in the state to offer minimally invasive scarless endoscopic lacrimal surgery to treat tear duct obstruction.

Are There Risks With Excessive Tearing Surgery?

While all surgical procedures inherently have some risk involved, Dr. Levin is a skilled surgeon with years of experience. Some of the risks include scarring that causes incomplete improvement or recurrence of the problem. During your consultation with Dr. Levin, she will be able to discuss the risks involved in the surgery and help answer any questions you may have.

Dr. Flora Levin of Westport, CT

Dr. Levin is an oculofacial plastic surgeon based in Westport, Connecticut. She is board-certified and has performed thousands of surgical eye procedures. Dr. Levin graduated from Weill Cornell Medical College and completed her residency in ophthalmology at the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey. While there, she was elected Chief Resident. She then completed a neuro-ophthalmology fellowship at Columbia University and a fellowship in ophthalmic plastic, reconstructive & orbital surgery at the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary. From 2010 to 2014, Dr. Levin was the director of the Ophthalmic Plastic & Orbital Surgery at the Yale University School of Medicine Yale-New Haven Hospital, where she is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor. She has been in private practice since 2014 and has operated her practice since 2016.

Recovery After Your Treatment

Because Dr. Levin uses minimally invasive techniques, you will be able to return home immediately following your surgery. If the problem is limited to the opening of the tear duct drain (punctum), that procedure, called punctoplasty, can be performed in the office with local anesthesia. Patients usually resume normal activities in 1-3 days.

If the problem is blockage of the tear duct in the nose, the surgery to correct it is called dacryocystorhynostomy (DCR). It is performed as an outpatient same-day procedure with general anesthesia. The surgery usually takes 30-60 minutes. The recommended downtime is 5-7 days.

Another possible cause of tearing is malposition of the eyelid where the drain is no longer in position to collect the tears effectively. That is corrected in the office by tightening the eyelid tendons and using sutures to improve the position of the tear duct. During the recovery period, you will be asked to avoid exercise and other strenuous activities.

Dr. Levin will provide you with complete recovery instructions and will see you for a follow-up appointment to check your progress. If you have any questions or concerns during your recovery period, Dr. Levin and her staff will be able to assist you.

Your Consultation With Dr. Levin

A consultation with Dr. Levin is the first step in determining whether you are a candidate for excessive tearing and & lacrimal surgery. During your consultation, she will evaluate the area to see if you would benefit from the procedure. After this, she will be able to make her recommendation on what surgical route would be best for you and tailor the treatment accordingly. While our office does not accept insurance, we will gladly provide you with the necessary documentation to submit it to your insurance company. Dr. Flora Levin proudly provides Westport, Norwalk, Fairfield, CT, and surrounding areas with excessive tear evaluations and surgical solutions. Contact our office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Levin.