Understanding Tear Production and Drainage

Ever wondered what this tiny hole in the corner of your eyelid is?

It's actually the reason your nose runs when you cry.

Above the outer corner of each eye sits a lacrimal gland,

a tiny factory that pumps out fluid twenty-four/seven.

Every time you blink, your eyelid acts like a windshield wiper,

spreading that fluid across your cornea to wash away debris and

create a smooth surface for clear vision.

And it's not just water, it's packed with proteins

and bacteria-killing

compounds that shield your eyes.

But those tears need somewhere to go.

Those tiny inner corner openings are called lacrimal puncta.

They act like micro drains, pulling tears through narrow

channels into the lacrimal sac, down the nasolacrimal duct,

and straight into your nasal cavity.

That's why your nose runs when you cry, and only when those

drains get completely overwhelmed do the excess tears

finally spill over your eyelids.