My eye specialist has recommended bilateral lateral canthoplasty surgery. Is this procedure likely to fix my watery eyes?

Question

I suffer from dry eyes and they are continually tearing up which is embarrassing because I have to wipe the eyes with a clean handkerchief.I am 78 yoa and have had this problem for 10 years. The problem is worse in the cooler months.

Mehryar (Ray) Taban, MD, FACS · Answer

It sounds like your tearing is from multiple causes. If one of them is from lower eyelid laxity, then tightening the lower eyelids (through canthoplasty) can improve the tear pump function and hopefully improve the tearing.

Robert S. Schmidt, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question. Canthoplasty surgery is designed to strengthen the support structures of your lower eyelids. When the lid support is poor, the tears aren't adequately distributed across your eyeball which makes them feel dry. In severe cases, the tears will leak out after pooling behind the lid. Canthoplasty surgery should help and is a relatively straight forward procedure. Good luck!

Harry V. Wright, MD · Answer

The tears that your eyes make is collected by the lower eyelid, on the side near your nose. If your excessive tearing is due to the fact that your lower eyelids are not tightly against the eye and cannot efficiently collect the tears, which then pool up and run down your face, then bilateral lateral canthoplasty should help.There are, of course, many causes of excessive tearing. So the clinical judgement of your surgeon regarding the cause is key.Good luck!  Harry V. Wright MD

My eye specialist has recommended bilateral lateral canthoplasty surgery. Is this procedure likely to fix my watery eyes?

Answers (3)