Search Eye Pictures

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

WHY IS THIS EYE TEARING?

There is a canal that goes from our eyes to our nose.  Every time we blink, tears get pumped into the canal, so that they don't flow out onto our cheek.  

In the case below, the patient was complaining of excessive tearing.  In the corner of his eye, on the lower lid, you can see the opening of the canal. You may also see that the opening is not flush against the eyeball.  The excess tears have no way of getting down into the canal. 

In this case, if the excessive tearing bothers the patient enough, a surgical procedure can be performed to bring the opening of the canal back against the eyeball where the tears are. 

This condition, called ectropion, happens mostly as we age and the lid becomes lax.  It just falls away from the eye.  It can also occur in the case of injury or growing lid lesions.  

Tearing in the eye can sometimes be very difficult to diagnose.  It can occur from dry eyes, clogged tear drainage, allergy, viral infection, or other inflammations. 


For more information, contact us at Sonoran Desert Eye Center  480-812-2211, or visit our web page at www.SonoranDesertEye.com

No comments: