Epiphora: Watery Eyes


The normal tear system
Lacrimal apparatus annotated
• The eye has several tear glands which produce tears on to the surface of the eye, the largest of which is the lacrimal gland, sitting behind the upper lid.
• Tears are important in helping to wash, clean and lubricate the eyeball surface.
• The eyelids behave like squeegees; distributing the tear film evenly across the eyeball surface with every blink.
• The tears then drain away through small openings (also called puncta) found on the edge of the upper and lower eyelids near the nose. These openings lead into small channels (called canaliculi) , which meet and drain into the tear drainage system within the nose (lacrimal sac and duct).
• The tears then empty out of the passageway system within the nose, where they are then automatically swallowed.
If the tear duct is blocked your tears back up and spill over your eyelids as if you are crying. Tears trapped in the tear sac also become stagnant and infected.

Next>>