Punctoplasty
Encyclopedia
Punctoplasty is a surgical procedure to restore the proper drainage of tears when the Lacrimal punctum
(puncta lacrimalia) gets blocked in one or both the eyes.
Tears
are produced by the lacrimal gland, situated just outside the eyes. As we blink the eyelids spreads them over to keep the eyes moist, clean and lubricated. Excess tears are drained via the plug hole (punctum
) through the tiny channels called canaliculi
located on the inner side of the eyes into the tear sac
, from there to the tear duct, the nose and finally down the throat.
Watering eyes is a situation when tears flow out of the eyes, primarily cased by excessive tear production (as a result of emotion, irritation or dryness) or if the drainage system is blocked.
The blockage is a common problem among elderly people as the tear ducts narrow or get blocked easily. The same condition is also prevalent in new born babies, as their tear ducts don’t open up at time of birth.
Lacrimal punctum
The lacrimal canaliculi, one in each eyelid, commence at minute orifices, termed puncta lacrimalia , on the summits of the papillae lacrimales, seen on the margins of the lids at the lateral extremity of the lacus lacrimalis...
(puncta lacrimalia) gets blocked in one or both the eyes.
Tears
Tears
Tears are secretions that clean and lubricate the eyes. Lacrimation or lachrymation is the production or shedding of tears....
are produced by the lacrimal gland, situated just outside the eyes. As we blink the eyelids spreads them over to keep the eyes moist, clean and lubricated. Excess tears are drained via the plug hole (punctum
Lacrimal punctum
The lacrimal canaliculi, one in each eyelid, commence at minute orifices, termed puncta lacrimalia , on the summits of the papillae lacrimales, seen on the margins of the lids at the lateral extremity of the lacus lacrimalis...
) through the tiny channels called canaliculi
Lacrimal canaliculi
The lacrimal canaliculi, also known as the lacrimal canals or lacrimal ducts, are the small channels in each eyelid that commence at minute orifices, termed puncta lacrimalia, on the summits of the papillae lacrimales, seen on the margins of the lids at the lateral extremity of the lacus...
located on the inner side of the eyes into the tear sac
Lacrimal sac
The lacrimal sac is the upper dilated end of the nasolacrimal duct, and is lodged in a deep groove formed by the lacrimal bone and frontal process of the maxilla...
, from there to the tear duct, the nose and finally down the throat.
Watering eyes is a situation when tears flow out of the eyes, primarily cased by excessive tear production (as a result of emotion, irritation or dryness) or if the drainage system is blocked.
The blockage is a common problem among elderly people as the tear ducts narrow or get blocked easily. The same condition is also prevalent in new born babies, as their tear ducts don’t open up at time of birth.