If you burst into tears when the wind blows in winter, it may be that the "drain pipe" of your eyes is blocked!

The human eye will constantly produce tears to moisten our cornea. These tears are produced by glands located inside the eyelids. So where do these endless tears go? In addition to some tears evaporating into the air when the eyes are open, the other part flows into the nasal cavity through a channel, which is like the sewer of the eye. We call it the tear duct.

What is tear duct disease?

Tear duct disease is a common ophthalmic disease, which is mainly caused by tear duct inflammation, trauma, foreign bodies, tumors, parasites and congenital abnormalities. Symptoms include tears and pus in the corners of the eyes. Some patients will experience local redness, swelling, pain, and affected vision.

Under normal circumstances, the lacrimal glands continuously produce tears, which are excreted onto the surface of the eyeball through the lacrimal ducts. They not only moisturize the eyeball but also help excrete certain toxins from the human body.

When the tear duct is blocked or narrowed, tears no longer flow normally, which can easily lead to corruption and infection, and cause tear duct diseases.

Tear duct disease should not be ignored

Hidden danger 1: Long-term immersion in tears can cause skin infection around the eyes

The tears of patients with dacryocystitis contain a large number of bacteria. Long-term tearing causes the skin of the corners of the eyes and lower eyelids to be soaked in tears, which can easily cause infection.

In addition, constant wiping will cause abrasion of the skin on the lower eyelid, giving bacteria an opportunity to invade, causing eczema or other skin problems, and even accelerating the aging of the skin around the eyes.

Hidden danger 2: Tear duct obstruction and lacrimal cystitis

When the tear duct is blocked, tears cannot be discharged and are "blocked" in the lacrimal sac for a long time, which can easily cause bacterial growth.

The bacteria produced constantly stimulate the lacrimal sac wall, causing chronic inflammation of the lacrimal sac mucosa, resulting in mucous or purulent secretions.

Hidden danger 3: Bacteria in tears can easily lead to corneal infection

The purulent secretions in the corners of the eyes of patients with tear duct disease contain a large number of bacteria. If the cornea is slightly damaged, the bacteria will take advantage of the opportunity to enter and cause keratitis. In mild cases, scars will remain on the cornea after healing, affecting vision; in severe cases, corneal perforation may occur, even leading to blindness.

Lacrimal sac inflammation affects the treatment of other eye diseases

Zhang Jiang, director of the tear duct department of Wuhan University Aier Eye Hospital, said that patients with dacryocystitis should not undergo intraocular surgery for the time being to avoid serious infection after the operation. For example, if a cataract patient also suffers from chronic dacryocystitis, he must wait until the chronic dacryocystitis is completely cured before undergoing cataract surgery.