Blocked tear duct-excessive watering eye.

I have been a contact wearer for approx 25 years. Over the last few years I have what seems to be a blocked tear duct. When I am not wearing my contacts my right eye burns and waters with over sensitivity to air. My eye continually burns and waters until I put in my contacts (soft) and then clears up until I take them out at night. I have tried not wearing my contacts for 30 days and the symptoms never clear up. I have a continual stream of tears which makes my eye lid very raw. Can you also tell me if there are other ways to clear up a blocked tear duct without surgery?
Thank you

[James J Salz, M.D.]

there are many causes for a watery eye and one of them is a blocked tear duct.  at times it can be opened with dilation of the opening to the duct or irrigations and probing of the duct and if that fails then surgery is the only other option.  You should be examined by an EyeMd to make sure the tearing is in fact due to a blocked duct rather than other causes like malposition of the eye lid, or allergy.
JS

[Doloresmarie]

A related discussion, Blocked Tear ducts was started.