Epiphora Treatment (Watering Eyes)

Threshold

Adult patients should only be referred by GPs if one of the following is present:

• Nasolacrimal duct obstruction causing distension of the lacrimal sac e.g. a dacryocystocele which would be prone to recurrent infection
• Constant daytime clear watering causing tears to run down the face and severe enough to impair vision of a daily basis, causing smearing on glasses
• Symptoms of persistent clear watering plus 3 episodes of infection or sticky discharge within 12 months.

Treatment of Epiphora:

• Dacryocystorhinoplasty
• Punctocanaliculoplasty

Children with Epiphora should continue to be referred as normal

Cases for Individual Funding Consideration (Patients who do not meet the policy criteria)

On a case to case basis, patients might be eligible for surgical intervention, in consideration of their exceptionality. The requesting clinician must provide information to support the case for being considered an exception, by submitting an individual funding request.