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The lacrimal gland is a small, almond-sized gland responsible for producing the watery part of your tears. You have one lacrimal gland for each eye. It is a main part of the lacrimal system, which is the complete network in your eye that handles tear production and drainage.
read more about the lacrimal gland ...The lacrimal gland is located in the upper, outer portion of your eye socket, just above the eyeball. It is tucked into a small dip in the bone of your skull. Under normal conditions, you cannot see or feel your lacrimal gland. The tears it produces are released onto the surface of the eye through tiny openings.
The main job of the lacrimal gland is to produce reflex tears. These are the tears that flow when you cry from emotion or when your eye gets irritated by something like dust or onion fumes. These tears help wash away debris, protect the eye from infection with natural antibodies, and keep the cornea nourished and healthy.
Several problems can affect the lacrimal gland. It can become inflamed and swollen, a condition called dacryoadenitis, which causes a painful lump on the outer upper eyelid. The gland can also fail to produce enough tears, leading to a type of dry eye syndrome. This is common in people with certain autoimmune diseases, like Sj?gren's syndrome.
It is important to understand that the lacrimal gland is responsible for "reflex tears", the massive flood of water produced when you cry or get poked in the eye. However, the eye needs constant moisture just to stay open. This daily moisture, called "basal tears," is actually produced by tiny accessory glands located inside the eyelid tissue, not the main lacrimal gland. This explains why you can still cry emotional tears even if you suffer from dry eye syndrome; your main pump works, but the background maintenance system is failing.
Tears are made of three layers. The lacrimal gland produces the middle and largest layer, which is mostly water. The other layers are a thin outer oil layer and an inner mucus layer, which are made by other glands in the eyelids.
Usually, no. The lacrimal gland produces tears. Watery eyes are most often caused by a blockage in the tear drainage system, which is located in the inner corner of the eye near the nose.
It sits in the upper, outer corner of the eye socket, tucked under the brow bone. This position allows gravity to help tears flow diagonally across the eye surface toward the drainage ducts located near the nose.
You should see an eye doctor if you have symptoms of severe dry eye or if you notice a painful swelling or lump in the area of your upper, outer eyelid. An eye doctor can examine the area to determine if there is a problem with your lacrimal gland and recommend the correct treatment.
1. Lacrimal Gland. American Academy of Ophthalmology. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/anatomy/lacrimal-gland. March 28, 2016.
2. Tear System (Lacrimal Apparatus): Function and Anatomy. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24415-lacrimal-apparatus. November 2, 2022.
3. Anatomy, Head and Neck: Eye Lacrimal Gland. Ryan Machiele, Michael J. Lopez, and Craig N. Czyz. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532914/. July 24, 2023.
4. Tear Film. American Academy of Ophthalmology. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/anatomy/tear-film-3. November 29, 2017.
5. Dacryoadenitis (Lacrimal Gland Inflammation): Causes & Treatment. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24423-dacryoadenitis. November 2, 2022.