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A-Z Glossary

Table of Contents

Canaliculitis

Danielle Stoken
Written byDanielle Stoken
Danielle Stoken
Danielle StokenEye Health & Wellness ContributorPittsburgh, PA

Bio

I was so excited when I learned about CorneaCare and am honored to share content, tips and stories about dry eye! I am a certified Health Coach through the Institute for Integrative nutrition so the intersection of nutrition/lifestyle and dry eye disease is one that I am particularly passionate about. Since recently becoming a mom, I care even more about my eye care and self-care and am learning so much through CorneaCare's educational resources.

Get to know me a little better!

Hobby: baking sourdough bread
Food: pasta
Superhero: my dad
Guilty pleasure: cold brew coffee (really, any coffee)
Secret power: serious facial recognition/recollection

Training:

Undergraduate: Carnegie Mellon University
Nutrition training: Institute for Integrative Nutrition

  • Last updated November 7, 2022

What is Canaliculitis?

Canaliculitis is a disease of the lacrimal canaliculus, which is a small duct in the eyelid.¹

Often, there are no clear risk factors. In some cases, obstruction in the canaliculus by a punctal plug or other foreign object can initiate bacterial growth.¹

Symptoms of canaliculitis include:

  • Red eyes
  • Watery eyes
  • Swelling
  • Discharge

Most symptoms occur in the corner of your eye closest to your nose.² Doctors often wrongly diagnose canaliculitis because the symptoms are similar to common eye conditions like allergic conjunctivitis, dry eye disease, blepharitis, and meibomian gland dysfunction.²

One thing that separates canaliculitis from these other conditions is that stones often form in the canals.¹  

Key Points

  • Canaliculitis is a rare disease often mistaken for other eye conditions like blepharitis, dry eye disease, and conjunctivitis.
  • Doctors aren’t sure what causes canaliculitis, but having punctal plugs may be a risk factor.
  • Canaliculitis can be treated with warm compress, medication, and in some cases, surgery.
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Understanding Canaliculitis

Canaliculitis is a rare condition and makes up only about 2-4% of all lacrimal diseases.³ The condition is even rarer in younger populations, with patients usually being over 40 years of age.

Because it is rare, many patients experience more severe symptoms or for a longer time due to underdiagnosis.²

Diagnosis

To diagnose canaliculitis, your eye doctor will perform a physical exam of your affected eye. He or she will express and probe the canaliculus to look for discharge or drainage issues. However, if your eye is acutely and severely inflamed, they will avoid probing.¹ 

Your doctor may perform laboratory tests from cultures taken during your exam to look for common pathogens that may lead to canaliculitis development.¹ Additionally, if you have had punctal plugs or an obstruction is suspected, your doctor may check for potential blockages using imaging.² 

Treatment

You can manage canaliculitis at home with a warm compress and massage. Make a warm compress with a soft cloth and warm water, or purchase a self-heating eye mask. A warm compress and massage can help loosen and break up an obstruction.²

Your eye doctor may also prescribe topical or oral antibiotics to fight bacteria and irrigation to flush out the discharge.²

If an obstruction is present, recurrence of the condition is possible and likely. If so, your doctor may perform surgery to remove the blockage, such as a stone or punctal plug.² In some cases, your doctor will insert a temporary stent to prevent scarring.¹

Before surgery, your doctor will use a local anesthetic to numb the area. After surgery, your doctor will provide prescription antibiotics and eye drops to use to prevent reinfection.²

Surgery for canaliculitis is often successful and may stop disease recurrence.²

Bibliography

  1. Giacometti, Joseph. “Canaliculitis.” EyeWiki, 17 November 2021, https://eyewiki.org/Canaliculitis. Accessed 14 April 2022.
  2. Zaveri, Jill. “Lacrimal canaliculitis.” NCBI, 13 November 2013, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3923200/. Accessed 14 April 2022.
  3. “Primary canaliculitis: The incidence, clinical features, outcome and long-term epiphora after snip–punctoplasty and curettage.” Science Direct, 2015, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1319453415000910.

 

Related Terms

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Puncta

play an important role in tear drainage. Puncta can be occluded to treat dry eye disease and may improve symptoms

Trichiasis

is a lid margin disorder in which the eyelashes that arise from their normal position are misdirected toward the ocular surface

Superior Limbic Keratoconjunctivitis

is an inflammatory condition that affects the upper area of the cornea and conjunctiva

Scleral Lenses

are rigid gas permeable lenses (RGP) that vault over the cornea and rest on the sclera and conjunctival tissue

Blepharochalasis

Occurs when the eyelids suddenly become inflamed and swell

Vitreous Hemorrhage

is caused by a disruption to current blood vessels or the growth of abnormal vessels

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