Introduction

DCR is a procedure that is performed to bypass the tear duct and allow for tears to drain directly from the eye into the nose. Dr Robinson performs this procedure via an endonasal approach without any cuts on the face.

Indications

Patients who need to have a DCR have one of the following:

• Persistent tearing associated with a blocked nasolacrimal duct
• Recurrent dacrocystitis (infections of the tear duct).
• Mucocele formation (mucus collected in a sac beside the tear duct).

Procedure

Dr Robinson will assess whether performing a DCR is required and if so, will perform the procedure under anaesthetic. The procedure all goes through the nose and the tear duct is opened into the nose. After the tear duct is opened, Dr Robinson will sometimes put a stent in the tear duct to allow it to stay open.

The success of DCR is extremely high – with over 90% of patients having a substantial improvement in their tearing after the operation.

Dr Robinson also founded and runs the combined DCR clinic at the Gold Coast University Hospital. This clinic is run with Dr Sharon Morris who is an ophthalmologist. Together in this clinic, they see the more complex cases of patients who need to have a DCR as well as patients who need to have an orbital decompression due to overly prominent eyes.

Dr Robinson and Dr Morris routinely conduct combined DCRs and orbital decompressions both in the public and the private settings.

Orbital decompression is required for patients with exposure keratopathy (dry red eye) associated with a proptosed globe (protruding eyeball). This can be caused by Graves orbitopathy or by other intraconal masses / inflammatory conditions.

Dr Robinson has authored an article on this topic which can be found in Clinics or North America 2011 (Paywalled).

To discuss if dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is recommended for you, please make an appointment with Dr Dan Robinson.