Dry eye is a very common eye problem, which is most often treated with artificial tears. Alternative options include the use of punctal plugs which are placed in the commencement of the tear drainage system in the lower eyelids (the inferior puncta). These punctal plugs can be removed easily. They are barely visible on close inspection.They are initially used as a trial to ensure that a patient with a dry eye does not develop secondary overflow tearing. If this happens, the plugs are removed in clinic. A more permanent solution is the application of cautery to the inferior puncta under local anaesthesia, following a successful trial of punctal plugs.

Patients who develop a blind painful unsightly eye for a variety of reasons and whose pain is not controlled with medical treatments e.g. Atropine drops, usually require the removal of the eye (by means of an enucleation or an evisceration of the eye) with placement of an orbital implant.

Excessive tearing or the bothersome problem of tears overflowing down the cheek is called epiphora (watering eye or watery eye). This can have many different causes. A careful clinical examination by an oculoplastic surgeon is required to determine the underlying cause. The appropriate treatment of a watery eye problem will depend on the underlying cause e.g. if the lower eyelid is sagging away from the eye (ectropion) and causing a watery eye, the treatment will be surgery designed to reposition the eyelid.