Is a Jones tube permanent?

A Lester Jones tube will remain in place for the rest of your life and will need some daily maintenance to make sure it continues to work properly. It is a life long commitment.

Can a Jones tube be removed?

That can often be done in situ, or occasionally removed, cleaned and replaced. Sometimes the Jones tubes are very stable and cause no problems for many years.

How does a Jones tube work?

A Jones tube is a thin tube made from glass that is used to create a new channel for draining the tears. A Jones tube corrects watering of the eye when the canaliculi (or the eyelid portion of the tear ducts) become blocked or stop working and can’t be restored. The tube bypasses the blockage to restore tear drainage.

How do you remove a DCR tube?

The tube is simply removed externally by grasping it at the medial canthus with non-toothed forceps and firmly pulling laterally in a single movement (Figure 1c). This obviates the need of any intranasal manipulation or tube cutting. The short sleeve segment rests within the nose before finding its own way out.

How long do Jones tubes last?

These patients with Jones’ tube placement before 1990 provides the first recorded evidence that the device can be tolerated for at least four decades, and that some patients will—with appropriate outpatient maintenance—retain their originally placed tube.

How do you clear a Jones tube?

Regular ‘sniffing’ of saline or Hypromellose drops through the tube – several times daily – helps to keep it clear of mucus and debris. When sneezing, 2 fingers should be placed over the tube in the inner corner of the eyelids to minimise the chance of it becoming displaced.

How is the tube removed after a DCR?

Is DCR a major surgery?

Endoscopic DCR (Minimally Invasive) The ophthalmic plastic surgeon usually places a small tube there to help keep the new tear duct open.

How successful is DCR surgery?

DCR is widely used to treat nasolacrimal duct obstruction. It can be performed via the skin (external DCR) or intranasally (endonasal DCR). External DCR has usually been performed because of the accessible location of the lacrimal sac and its high success rate, approximately 90–96 %.