Tårdränering

Tårdränering, also known as tear duct drainage, refers to the anatomical pathway through which tears are removed from the surface of the eye. This system is essential for maintaining ocular health and clear vision by preventing excessive tear buildup. The process begins with tears being produced by the lacrimal glands, located above the outer corner of each eye. These tears spread across the eye's surface, lubricating and cleansing it.

Excess tears then flow towards the inner corner of the eye, where they enter small openings called puncta. There are typically two puncta per eye, one on the upper eyelid and one on the lower eyelid. Once inside the puncta, the tears travel through narrow tubes called canaliculi. These canaliculi merge to form a common canaliculus, which then empties into the lacrimal sac.

The lacrimal sac is a small reservoir situated in a groove on the side of the nose. From the lacrimal sac, tears descend through a duct known as the nasolacrimal duct. This duct empties into the nasal cavity, which is why crying often leads to a runny nose. This drainage system is constantly active, even when not actively crying, to remove normal tear production and debris. Blockages or malformations within this pathway can lead to conditions like epiphora (excessive tearing) or dacryocystitis (inflammation of the lacrimal sac).