Most blockages clear up on their own within the first year of life. Massage is a widely recommended technique to help open the duct and relieve symptoms.
| Treatment | Indication | Cure rate | Invasiveness | |-----------|------------|-----------|---------------| | Massage alone | Mild congenital NLDO | ~70–80% by 6 months | Non-invasive | | Massage + antibiotics | Mucoid discharge | ~85–90% | Non-invasive | | Probing | Failed massage after 12–18 months | ~90% | Minor procedure | | DCR surgery | Adult acquired / failed probing | >95% | Surgical | tear duct obstruction massage
Here’s a deep, evidence-based review of (also known as Crigler massage or nasolacrimal duct massage). Most blockages clear up on their own within
