Lacrimal
A minimally invasive tear-duct procedure: a balloon catheter is inflated inside the nasolacrimal duct to reopen a narrowed segment — used for refractory congenital and functional obstruction.
Medically reviewed by Ronald W. Kristan, MD, FACSOculoplastic SurgeonLast updated June 2026
Balloon dacryoplasty is a minimally invasive way to open a narrowed or blocked tear-drainage duct without creating an external incision. A tiny deflated balloon catheter is threaded into the nasolacrimal duct and inflated to stretch open the narrowed segment — much like an angioplasty balloon opens a narrowed blood vessel. It is used chiefly for stubborn congenital tear-duct obstruction in children and for some adults with a partial (functional) narrowing.
This is a focused companion to our main Tearing & the Lacrimal System guide and our detailed Blocked Tear Duct & DCR page, which cover the full range of tear-duct procedures.
The tear-drainage system carries tears from the eye's surface, through the puncta (the tiny openings at the inner corner of the lids), along small channels (canaliculi) into the lacrimal sac, and down the nasolacrimal duct into the nose. When that duct is narrowed rather than completely scarred shut, a balloon can reopen it:
In children the procedure is performed under general anesthesia; in adults it may sometimes be done with local anesthesia and sedation. It can be used on its own or combined with silicone intubation (a soft temporary stent) to keep the duct open while it heals.
Balloon dacryoplasty is best suited to:
It is an alternative to intubation for refractory congenital cases. When the duct is completely scarred shut, or blocked by chronic infection of the tear sac (dacryocystitis), a balloon cannot reopen it — those cases need a bypass operation (dacryocystorhinostomy, or DCR), which creates a new drainage pathway directly into the nose.
Think of tear-duct treatment as a ladder, from least to most invasive:
Choosing the right rung depends on the child's age, whether prior probing failed, and whether the obstruction is a narrowing or a complete block.
Because there is no incision, recovery is quick. Children typically go home the same day. Antibiotic-steroid drops are used for a short period, and if a stent was placed it is removed in the office weeks to months later. Tearing usually improves as the duct heals and any swelling settles. Success rates are high (roughly 70–80% in refractory congenital cases) but not guaranteed; tearing can recur, minor nosebleeds or irritation can occur, and if the narrowing re-forms a DCR may still be needed.
Persistent tearing, discharge, or recurrent tear-sac infections deserve evaluation — particularly in a child whose watering has not resolved by their first birthday, or an adult with a chronically wet, irritated eye. An ASOPRS-trained oculoplastic surgeon can determine whether a balloon dacryoplasty, intubation, or a DCR is the right next step.
A watery or infected tear duct can usually be treated effectively
From minimally invasive balloon dacryoplasty to definitive DCR surgery, an oculoplastic surgeon can open the drainage the right way. Find a specialist near you.
Schedule a consultation with Ronald W. Kristan, MD, FACS to learn if this procedure is right for you.
