Tear ducts

The tear duct is made up of two systems; the tear secreting and producing system and the excreting system, which the tears must go through before leaving the eye surface.

Lacrimal pathology

• Epiphora, hypersecretion or excessive tearing.
• Hyposecretion or little tearing.
• Acute dacryoadenitis, inflammation of the principal glands.
• Chronic dacryoadenitis, obstruction of the tear ducts at the lacrimal sac.
• Displacement of the lacrimal points.
• Lacrimal pump failure.
• The lacrimal system can have malignant tumours that lead to exophthalmos (bulging of the eye outward) and diplopia (double vision).

Pathologies in children

The most common lacrimal pathology in children is obstruction of the tear duct, which can be seen in the form of epiphora and conjunctivitis, especially during the first year of life. The second most common lacrimal pathology is traumatic pathology, which usually occurs in older children (between four and five years old). Its most common characteristic is the laceration (injury) of the tear ducts, especially the lower duct, due to accidents with pets.