Epiphora (medicine)

As epiphora ( Greek, " epiphora " ) is called in medicine from leaking tears on the eye rims. It is the expression of an imbalance between the production of tears in the lacrimal glands and the outflow of the lacrimal drainage system. Epiphora is a symptom of many eye diseases.

Causes

Causes of epiphora may be an increased production of tears ( Dakryorrhö ), as occurs especially in mechanical irritation of the conjunctiva, cornea (foreign bodies, entropion ) as well as irritation of the trigeminal nerve, sinus disease or hypertrophy of the lacrimal gland.

A second reason relates to complex drainage disorders of the tear fluid by the lacrimal drainage system. In particular, congenital or acquired narrowing (stenosis ), but also deformities of the punctum by degenerative or congenital disorders of the eyelids may be responsible for this. In this complex of causes must be taken in children to the possibility of congenital glaucoma in particular.