The removal of the tear sacs is a frequently aesthetically indicated measure to rejuvenate the appearance of the eyes and give them a fresher look and make the eye look larger. A plastic surgeon can make this possible through an operative procedure. There are also some non-invasive measures to reduce the size of the lacrimal sacs. The development of the lacrimal sacs is counted among the group of connective tissue diseases and can be genetically determined.
Cause
The skin under the eye is popularly known as the tear sacs, which when enlarged, fall and swell like tears. Actually, however, the areas around the eye called tear sacs belong to the lower eyelid and have nothing to do with the tear apparatus with the eye fluid or the tear glands, and they are not influenced in their size and shape by crying. The tear fluid is formed in the lacrimal gland under the outer upper eyelid of the eye, from where the tear fluid is distributed over the eye and is then drained via the tear points and the tear ducts to the so-called tear sac.
This lies directly next to the bony boundary of the nose and merges into the lacrimal duct. During normal tear production, the tear fluid is thus exclusively drained into the nose, where it evaporates. Your nose runs when you cry, because here an excessive amount of tear fluid is produced and drained via the nose and also via the outer edge of the eyelid.
Thus, the term “tear sacs” for a swelling of the lower eyelid is strictly speaking wrong. The development of tear sacs can be a symptom of old age, which is caused by stored lymph fluid in the fatty tissue of the lower eyelid, by excess skin on the lower eyelid, by slackening of the skin and the underlying muscles or by increased fatty tissue in the eye socket. This makes the eyes look small and the bags under the eyes look thick and swollen.
The swelling of the lacrimal sacs usually changes during the course of the day. In addition to the signs of aging, frequent swelling of the eyelids, high exposure to light and genetic factors can be causes for the development. Furthermore, excess skin, age-related wrinkles or small fat deposits can cause so-called drooping eyelids, which lower the upper eyelid and give the eye a tired expression. These often occur in combination with lachrymal sacs, so that some plastic surgeons perform a simultaneous upper and lower eyelid lift.
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