Nasolacrimal Duct Probe Home Care

The nasolacrimal ducts are small passageways from the eyelids to the nasal cavity. This is where tears drain from the eyes into the nose. Sometimes these holes become blocked and need to be opened. Your child's doctor will insert small probes into the blocked duct to open it. A yellow dye may be put into the duct to make sure that it has been cleared.

Preparing for surgery

How you explain the surgery depends on your child's age.

• Very young children, three years or less, need a short, simple explanation the same day of the surgery.
• School-age and older preschoolers should know that they are coming to the hospital and that while they are sleeping the doctor will fix their eye.
• Older children may need more in-depth explanations in response to their questions.

What to expect after surgery

• There may be some redness and swelling around the eyes.
• There may be blood-tinged tears.
• There may be a bloody discharge from the nose.
• There may be a slightly yellow-green discharge from the eyes and/or nose from the dye that was used.
• You may notice a red/flushed color on your child's face and chest. This splotchy, red flushing is due to medicine received in surgery. This will soon fade.
• Tearing may persist the first few days after the procedure.
• Most children are fussy for the first few hours after surgery. Parents will be invited to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) soon after the child awakens.
• Eye drops may be provided for your use at home. Your child's nurse will go over with you how to use the eye drops.

When to call your child's doctor

• Your child has a croupy (barky) cough/cry or wheezing.
• Your child's temperature is greater than 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit by mouth or rectally. Slight fevers after surgery are normal. You should take your child's temperature at least once before bedtime the first night after the surgery.
• Your child has vomiting that lasts more than six hours or vomiting is severe. Your child can become dehydrated if vomiting occurs and unable to drink enough fluid to keep up with the loss. The signs of dehydration are:
  • Dry mouth
  • Sunken look around eyes
  • No tears when crying
  • Decreased amount of urine, which means fewer wet diapers than usual in an infant/toddler

REMEMBER: Please call if you have any questions. Use the number your child's nurse gives you.