Explaining Lacrimal Glands

Everybody knows that they can cry if they are going through emotional distress, or even if they are simply cutting up an onion. However, many people don’t know just how these tears are produced. If you ask your eye doctor in Miami what produces tears, they are going to tell you that the lacrimal gland is responsible for the majority of tear production in the human eye. Each person has two lacrimal glands, one above each eye, that provides them with the ability to physically cry. The glands are positioned above the eye and to the outer side of each eyeball, so they are hardly ever noticed. One of the biggest problems that an eye doctor in Miami Beach sees with their patient’s lacrimal glands is a lack of sufficient tear production. If someone is not producing enough tears naturally, then they are going to be susceptible to a number of eye problems. However, there are things that can be done to stimulate tear production better than it currently is.

How the Lacrimal Gland is Stimulated For Increased Tear Production

There are many ways people can increase their natural tear production with or without the help of a Miami eye doctor. Here are some of the most important things a patient diagnosed with dry eyes can do:

• Begin taking omega-3 fatty acids. These can be purchased in supplement form from most pharmacies and drug stores, and they are crucial to helping someone produce normal tears.
  
• Get a prescription eye drop from your doctor. There are special eye drops people can use on a daily basis that will stimulate their lacrimal gland into producing the normal amount of tears.
  
• Using regular over-the-counter eye drops. People who don’t have a severe case of dry eyes can likely use regular eye drops to help their natural tears remain on the surface of their eyes.
  
• Having a tear duct partially blocked. If someone’s tears are draining or evaporating too quickly, then the tear duct can be blocked in order to cause the tears to remain on the surface of the eye longer than they normally do.

Common Issues People Have With Their Lacrimal Glands

Those who are not naturally producing enough tears are susceptible to a number of health problems, which is why it’s so important to have this condition treated as soon as possible. Sometimes the treatment is something as simple as wearing your glasses more often, but it’s sometimes a complex issue, like removing a blockage in the tear duct. Those without sufficient tears on their eyes are going to get infections more often, be forced to deal with optical  inflammation, and also red eyes. All of these problems can cause someone to feel uncomfortable and deal with unnecessary pain. If you think you’re having issues with your lacrimal glands, be sure to voice your concerns to your Miami Beach eye doctor during your next appointment.

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