Dacryocystitis is an inflammation of the lacrimal sac, primarily caused by nasolacrimal duct obstruction, leading to tear stagnation and potential infection. Symptoms include pain, erythema, and purulent discharge, with risk factors including age and systemic diseases. Management involves antibiotics, warm compresses, and possibly surgery after infection resolution.

1. DACROCYSTITIS
Mrs. VANDANA KORANGA
M.Sc nursing
College of nursing K.G.M.U.
lucknow.,U.P.

2. DEFINITION
Dacryocystitis is inflammation of the lacrimal sac which typically occurs
secondarily to obstruction within the nasolacrimal duct and the resultant
backup and stagnation of tears within the lacrimal sac.

4. ETIOLOGY
The etiology of dacryocystitis is typically due to a nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO).
This can further be categorized into duration (acute versus chronic) and onset (congenital
and acquired causes).
Acute and chronic refer to the duration of current symptoms, with acute usually being a
time frame less than three months.
1-Acute dacryocystitis usually requires systemic antibiotic therapy prior to intervention for
the NLDO. In the United States, likely culprits are Staphylococcus aureus, B hemolytic
Streptococcus, and Haemophilus influenzae in children. In adults, the more likely causative
microorganisms include Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus
pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
2-Chronic dacryocystitis typically presents with less inflammatory signs and requires
surgical therapy for the underlying cause.

5. 3- CONGENITAL AND ACQUIRED REFER TO THE ONSET AND
CAUSE OF THE NLDO, WHICH GUIDES THE TREATMENT
ALGORITHM.
CONGENITAL FORMS OF DACRYOCYSTITIS ARE TYPICALLY DUE TO
OBSTRUCTION OF THE VALVE OF HASNER, LOCATED IN THE
DISTAL PORTION OF THE NASOLACRIMAL DUCT. IF AMNIOTIC
FLUID IS NOT EXPELLED FROM THE NASOLACRIMAL SYSTEM A
FEW DAYS FOLLOWING DELIVERY, IT CAN BECOME PURULENT,
LEADING TO NEONATAL DACRYOCYSTITIS.
4- ACQUIRED CAUSES OF DACRYOCYSTITIS
I] AGING
II] SYSTEMIC DISORDERS (LIKE SARCOIDOSIS), TRAUMA (SUCH AS
NASOETHMOID FRACTURES),
III] SURGERIES (SUCH AN ENDONASAL PROCEDURES),
NEOPLASMS, CERTAIN MEDICATIONS (SUCH AS TIMOLOL,
PILOCARPINE, IDOXURIDINE, AND TRIFLURIDINE).

6. SIGN AND SYMPTOMS
• pain.
• erythema.
• edema over the medial canthus and the area overlying the lacrimal sac at the
inferomedial portion of the orbit.
• The redness can extend to involve the bridge of the nose.
• Purulent material can sometimes be expressed from the puncta and tearing may be
present.
• In cases of chronic dacryocystitis, excessive tearing and discharge are the most common
symptom.
• Pus and musus
• fever

7. RISK FACTORS
• The risk factors for dacryocystitis are varied but are almost always related to nasolacrimal duct
obstruction.
• Females are at greater risk due to their narrower duct diameter as compared to males
• Older age leads to narrowing of the punctual openings, slowing tear drainage
• Dacryoliths; often idiopathic, a collection of shed epithelial cells, lipids, and amorphous debris
within the nasolacrimal system
• Nasal septum deviation, rhinitis and turbinate hypertrophy
• Damage to the nasolacrimal system due to trauma of the nasoethmoid region or
endoscopic/endonasal procedures
• Neoplasm within the nasolacrimal system
• Systemic disease such as granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA; formerly Wegener’s
granulomatosis), sarcoidosis, and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), or lacrimal sac tumors
• Medications such as timolol, pilocarpine, idoxuridine, and trifluridine

8. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
occurs secondary to obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct.
Obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct leads to stagnation of tears in a pathologically closed
lacrimal drainage system
stagnated tears providing a favorable environment for infectious organisms.
The lacrimal sac will then become inflamed leading to the characteristic erythema and
edema at the inferomedial portion of the orbit.

9. COMPLICATIONS
• An acute infection can become chronic if you don’t treat it quickly enough. In babies
with congenital dacryocystitis, the infection can spread into the eye socket. This can
lead to life-threatening complications such as:
• brain abscess, a collection of pus in the brain
• meningitis, or inflammation of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord
• sepsis, a body-wide inflammatory response caused by infection

10. DIAGNOSIS
• medical history.
• Accessing the eye for visible signs of dacryocystitis, such as swelling or redness.
• Pressing on the lacrimal sac to see if pus comes out.
• Collecting a sample of the pus to test for bacteria.
• Doing an eye exam.
• Taking a sample of any discharge to culture in the lab to find out which germ is
causing the infection.
• Taking a blood sample to check the level of white blood cells.

11. MANAGEMENT
• Antibiotics, either oral or intravenous, to kill the bacteria that caused the infection
• Antibiotic eye drops or ointment to prevent further infection
• Warm compresses and gentle massage to relieve symptoms
• Surgery to clear the blocked tear duct, usually after the infection has resolved

12. NURSING MANAGEMENT
Good hand washing and eyelid hygiene.
Application of antibiotic ointment.
Treatment usually consists of warm soaks to help promote drainage.