Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction Cat [top] May 2026

⚠️ Wetness on the cheek ⚠️ Thick yellow/green goo (not clear) ⚠️ Swollen bump below the eye

✅ Past Herpes Infection (scarring) ✅ Flat Face (Persian/Himalayan anatomy) ✅ Dirt or Litter (foreign body) nasolacrimal duct obstruction cat

Diagram: Eye → puncta → duct → nose. Text: Tears drain through a tiny tube into the nose. When blocked? Tears spill over the eyelid. ⚠️ Wetness on the cheek ⚠️ Thick yellow/green

Impedance of tear flow from the ocular surface to the nasal vestibule. Tears spill over the eyelid

Has your cat developed a constant "tear stain" down their face, even when they seem perfectly happy? While a little eye discharge is common, persistent wetness beneath the eyes—especially if it’s reddish-brown or thick—could point to a condition called Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction (NLDO) .

Think of the nasolacrimal duct as your cat’s internal drainage system. Normally, tears wash over the eye and drain through tiny holes (puncta) in the corner of the eye, down a narrow duct, and out through the nose. When that duct gets blocked, the tears have nowhere to go but over the eyelid and down the face—a symptom called epiphora .