pus explosion from blocked tear duct

[poppy]

A day or so ago I felt like I was getting a bit of a stye (which I get occasionally and usually go away by themself). It was near one of my tear ducts. Then I noticed that the punctum seemed to be clogged, like a pimple. Well it was getting more uncomfortable today, swollen and red, I went into the bathroom and gently pressed on the "pimple" with my thumb. The result was literally an explosion of yellow pus which covered my eyeball. It was disgusting. It was not like the toothpaste-type stuff that is sometimes described from expressing MGs. It was equivalent to popping a blister or a huge acne pustule. Never had anything like that happen to me before! It is less swollen and pimple like and less painful now. Should I be concerned about this though? Surely there must be an infection going on in my tear duct to cause such an explosion of pus!

After this, I don't think I will be doing punctual plugs again - ever. (I don't have them but have tried temporary dissolving ones in the past). I can't imagine how much worse this pustule would have been if I had a punctual plug in there.

Advice appreciated. I see my optometrist in a week anyway but now I have released the pus perhaps the optometrist will not be able to appreciate the potential issue?

[farmgirl]

My guess is as it heals it will probably scar shut...F/G

[spmcc]

I would think you'd need some sort of topical antibiotic now... perhaps something like what they'd give you for styes.

I though you were seeing your OD yesterday (Sat). Perhaps move up your appointment to sooner than a week away!

You've earned your name

[poppy]

My guess is as it heals it will probably scar shut...F/G

That might be a bonus. Free and painless cautery

[littlemermaid]

Poppy, for an infected tear duct, we used a fluoroquinolone to make sure it cleared. It's good you knew what this is - as usual, ours wasn't obvious on observation except through slit-lamp microscope, really painful though. Nice squeezing.

[poppy]

Hi LM, went to optometrist today - she couldn't see any evidence of any remaining infection one week after popping it (it was looking normal but is still pus-ey in the mornings). I wonder if the infection remains deeper within the tear duct? I would have thought eyes like mine wouldn't have cleared an infection like that entirely on their own. The optom did say come back in next time instead of popping it as if it is a tear duct infection it needs antibiotics (as opposed to a stye I think which can go away on it's own). I am pretty sure it was the tear duct, there was a big pimple where the puncta should have been. I have been wondering also if a chronic mild tear duct infection could be causing my ongoing aching pain around the eye socket and surrounding areas. Does your daughter get any pain like that with a tear duct infection?