
A 3-snip procedure is one of the techniques to treat watery eyes or excessive tears in the eye. This procedure is performed to widen the tear duct and improve the drainage of tears in the patient suffering from an abnormal narrowing of the tear duct.
There is a small hole at the inner corner of the upper and lower eyelids. These holes are known as puncta. The puncta are one of the structures responsible for collecting tears and draining them into the nose or nasal passage. If these holes are too small, tears may not drain properly, which will result in excessive tears called a watery eye. A patient may have this abnormality in one or sometimes in both eyes.
- This procedure is usually done under local anesthesia, which may be injected right beside the blocked tear duct. It is a minor procedure and no stitches are required for this procedure. This procedure is usually done on an outpatient basis, and the patient may leave the clinic or hospital after the procedure.
- Usually, the surgeon makes three small snips or incisions into the skin surrounding the puncta on the lower eyelid to create a larger tear duct opening. These incisions are usually made in a triangular or rectangular fashion.
- Once these three snips are created, the surgeon may flush some water through the tear duct to check if the puncta have opened sufficiently. The patient may feel the tear draining in the back of the throat if the procedure is successful.
- This procedure may usually last less than 30 minutes.
Does a 3-snip procedure have any risk?
Yes, all operations have some level of risk. The most common risks of the 3-snip procedure include:
- Surgery related complications like pain and infection and bleeding
- Bruising and swelling of the eyelids are the most common complication seen in the procedure
- Pinkish color tears are normal for the first few days
- The puncta may become small again, or sometimes may close completely. Further surgery may be needed to correct this.
When is 3-snip recommended?
An ophthalmologist may recommend a 3-snip punctoplasty if the patient has below symptoms:
- Excessive tearing in the eyes
- Tears overflowing onto the cheeks and causing skin irritation
- Irritation or redness in the eyes due to using tissues constantly
What is a recovery period after a 3-snip procedure?
The patient may be able to resume normal activities within a day after the procedure. If there are no complications, the patient may notice that tears are drained appropriately within a few minutes; however, it may usually take a few months to completely heal. A few common recommendations are given to the patient:
- The patient may be asked to rest their eyes for a couple of days.
- The patient may need to continue pain medications and antibiotics to ease and prevent any further discomfort.
- The patient may use an ice pack for quick relief.
- Travelling and driving may not be recommended at least for a week.
- A few common activities like bending, swimming, engaging in vigorous exercise, or lifting any heavy articles after the surgery may not be recommended.
- An eye shield or protective glasses may be given to the patient to protect the eye from any injury or infection. Eye makeup is not recommended for a few weeks after surgery.
What is the outlook of the 3-snip procedure?
The 3-snip procedure is a minor and minimally invasive procedure with almost no complications. Most of the patients found the procedure to be effective. Patients found the resolution to excessive tearing within 1.2 months postoperatively. Another surgery, such as stent placement, to drain the eyes is required for very few patients.

SLIDESHOW
The 14 Most Common Causes of Fatigue See SlideshowHealth Solutions From Our Sponsors
Top What Is a 3-Snip Procedure? Related Articles
Common Medical Abbreviations & Terms
Doctors, pharmacists, and other health-care professionals use abbreviations, acronyms, and other terminology for instructions and information in regard to a patient's health condition, prescription drugs they are to take, or medical procedures that have been ordered. There is no approved this list of common medical abbreviations, acronyms, and terminology used by doctors and other health- care professionals. You can use this list of medical abbreviations and acronyms written by our doctors the next time you can't understand what is on your prescription package, blood test results, or medical procedure orders. Examples include:
- ANED: Alive no evidence of disease. The patient arrived in the ER alive with no evidence of disease.
- ARF: Acute renal (kidney) failure
- cap: Capsule.
- CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure. A treatment for sleep apnea.
- DJD: Degenerative joint disease. Another term for osteoarthritis.
- DM: Diabetes mellitus. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- HA: Headache
- IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease. A name for two disorders of the gastrointestinal (BI) tract, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- JT: Joint
- N/V: Nausea or vomiting.
- p.o.: By mouth. From the Latin terminology per os.
- q.i.d.: Four times daily. As in taking a medicine four times daily.
- RA: Rheumatoid arthritis
- SOB: Shortness of breath.
- T: Temperature. Temperature is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is one of the "vital signs."
Eye Problems and Diabetes
Diabetes and eye problems are generally caused by high blood sugar levels over an extended period of time. Types of eye problems in a person with diabetes include glaucoma, cataracts, and retinopathy. Examples of symptoms include blurred vision, headaches, eye aches, pain, halos around lights, loss of vision, watering eyes. Treatment for eye problems in people with diabetes depend on the type of eye problem. Prevention of eye problems include reducing blood pressure, cholesterol levels, quitting smoking, and maintaining proper blood glucose levels.Dry Eye Quiz
What causes dry eye? Take this quiz to learn about dry eye syndrome and what can be done about it.What Are the Types of Eye Care?
Many common eye disorders resolve without treatment and some may be managed with over-the-counter (OTC) products. It's important to visit a physician or ophthalmologist is the problem involves the eyeball itself or the condition hasn't improved after 72 hours of use of an OTC eye care product.Common Eye Problems
Eye diseases can cause damage and blindness if not treated soon enough. Learn the warning signs and symptoms of common eye conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, pink eye, macular degeneration and more.Eye Picture
The eye has a number of components which include but are not limited to the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, retina, macula, optic nerve, choroid and vitreous. See a picture of the Eye and learn more about the health topic.Eye Strain
Eye strain is a symptom caused by looking at something for a long time. Symptoms and signs include redness, light sensitivity, headaches, and blurred vision. Symptoms may be treated by closing the eyes and taking a break from the visual task.Eye Conditions Quiz
What do you know about your eyes? Take this quick quiz to learn about a range of eye diseases and conditions.How Can I Get My Eye To Stop Twitching?
A blepharospasm (eye twitch) is a harmless, involuntary spasm of the muscle of the eyelids, which may resolve on its own. If the twitching isn't caused by an underlying condition, getting more rest and avoiding alcohol and caffeine may help stop it.