Definition
The lacrimal gland is located at the upper outer corner of the eye and produces most of the tear fluid. This is very important to keep the eye, especially the cornea, moist and nourished. For this reason, it is distributed over the entire cornea with every blink of the eye and then flows into the tear ducts in the inner corner of the eye.
From here the tear fluid is drained into the nasal cavity. An inflammation of the lacrimal gland usually affects the entire eye, since the tear fluid it produces supplies important structures and is distributed over the entire eye. In technical terminology, the inflammation of the lacrimal gland is called dacryoadenitis.
It manifests itself in the fact that the patient has a reddened and swollen eye that reacts very sensitively to pressure. A warming of the surrounding area can also often be felt. The upper eyelid is usually only swollen on the sleep side and hangs deeper only in this area, therefore this is called paragraph form.
Often it cannot be opened, because the swelling is too strong or pain prevents this. The affected eye may water or there may be a yellowish discharge from the affected eye. Due to the outflow, the eyelashes are often stuck together.
In severe cases of the disease, pus is discharged from the tear gland when pressure is applied. Vision can also deteriorate increasingly. The lymph nodes in front of the ear may be swollen on the affected side.
In some cases, headache, fever or vomiting may be added as symptoms. But inflammation of the lacrimal glands does not necessarily have to be associated with pain. Particularly in chronic inflammatory processes, pain is usually not experienced, but the swelling is usually more pronounced in this case.
Due to the discharge, the eyelashes are often stuck together. In severe cases of the disease, pus is discharged from the lacrimal gland when pressure is applied. Vision can also deteriorate increasingly.
The lymph nodes in front of the ear may be swollen on the affected side. In some cases, headache, fever or vomiting may be added as symptoms. But inflammation of the lacrimal glands does not necessarily have to be associated with pain.
Particularly in chronic inflammatory processes, pain is usually not experienced, but the swelling is usually more pronounced in this case. The doctor recognizes the inflamed lacrimal gland by the typical symptoms. However, in order to determine the cause of the inflammation, a smear must be taken.
This may reveal the presence of bacteria, which is important for initiating the appropriate therapy. A blood test may also be necessary to detect a systemic disease. The treatment of inflammation of the lacrimal gland always depends on the cause of the disease.
If the smear shows a positive result, i.e. if bacteria are responsible for the inflammation, treatment must be started with an antibiotic. Warm, preferably sterile compresses on the eye can help the inflammation to subside more quickly. If the inflammation of the lacrimal gland is diagnosed as a secondary disease, the causative diseases (mumps, measles, scarlet fever, etc.)
should be treated. If no infectious pathogens are identified as the cause, the swelling can be reduced by the administration of corticosteroids, i.e. preparations containing cortisone (prednisolone). Hygiene is important in the treatment of inflammation of the lacrimal gland in order to prevent the germs present from being carried over to other areas of the face or into the other eye.
Inflammation of the lacrimal gland can have various causes. Most often, the acute form of the inflammation is caused by bacterial pathogens. These include above all staphylococci, streptococci and pneumococci.
ll these bacteria can be transmitted by droplet infection, i.e. via the air we breathe. Certain viruses can also lead to inflammation of the lacrimal gland. This can be the case with measles, mumps, the whistling glandular fever or a flu-like infection.
Inflammation of the lacrimal gland often occurs as a concomitant disease with both bacteria and viruses as triggers. Often children are affected who suffer from a bacterial infection, e.g. scarlet fever, or a viral infection, e.g. measles, mumps or a flu-like infection.
People with a weakened immune system are particularly susceptible.In case of inflammation of the conjunctiva caused by bacteria or viruses, it can spread and spread to the lacrimal gland. The inflammation of the lacrimal gland can also become a chronic disease. This is the case when other inflammatory chronic diseases or systemic diseases are the cause.
These include, for example, tuberculosis, Hodgkin’s disease, leukemia or venereal diseases such as syphilis. A chronic inflammation can also be caused by non-infectious processes. If, for example, sarcoidosis is present as a pre-existing condition, i.e. a systemic disease with restructuring of the connective tissue, this can also affect the lacrimal gland.
Injuries to the lacrimal gland can also lead to inflammation. In most cases, the inflammation of the lacrimal gland heals on its own after about one to two weeks. In severe cases, however, the inflammation can spread and affect the entire eye socket. It can also develop into chronic inflammation of the lacrimal gland if the inflammation is not completely healed.
