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What Causes Swollen Lacrimal Gland?
Question: What causes swollen lacrimal gland unilaterally. It comes and goes. Like every few weeks. I've been having swelling on one side and my pcp and opthamalogist have no idea what it is. I just noticed tonight a spot above my eye. It usually happens at night only.
Brief Answer:
Please upload an image
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone carefully through your query and understand your concerns. There are two possibilities to consider. The eyes are lubricated by secretion from Meibomian glands which are located at the border of the eyelids. It is possible that one of them is getting blocked and infected leading to the swelling. The other possibility is blockage of the nasolacrymal duct through which the tears drain into our nose. I would insist you to upload an image of the swelling. It will help me to identify the possible cause.
You need to gently massage with the tip of a finger, stroking downward from the inner angle of the eye to the ala of the nose. This has to be done for a few times multiple times a day regularly. The ducts would soon open up and the watering will go away.
I will wait for your response. Let me know if I could help further.
Regards
Please upload an image
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone carefully through your query and understand your concerns. There are two possibilities to consider. The eyes are lubricated by secretion from Meibomian glands which are located at the border of the eyelids. It is possible that one of them is getting blocked and infected leading to the swelling. The other possibility is blockage of the nasolacrymal duct through which the tears drain into our nose. I would insist you to upload an image of the swelling. It will help me to identify the possible cause.
You need to gently massage with the tip of a finger, stroking downward from the inner angle of the eye to the ala of the nose. This has to be done for a few times multiple times a day regularly. The ducts would soon open up and the watering will go away.
I will wait for your response. Let me know if I could help further.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi, I have provided some attachments. Please review them.
Brief Answer:
Does not look concerning
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back and for attaching the images. As I can observe, there is a swelling between your left eye and left eyebrow. This would neither be due to problems with Meibomian glands nor of that with nasolacrymal ducts. A clinical examination would be needed to evaluate whether a lipoma could be present. A lipoma is a benign (harmless) growth of fibrofatty tissue. In any case the swelling does not look concerning. You can get a second opinion from another doctor and hopefully he too would indicate that there is nothing to worry about. Unless you observe a rapid enlargement of the swelling there is nothing to be concerned about.
Regards
Does not look concerning
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back and for attaching the images. As I can observe, there is a swelling between your left eye and left eyebrow. This would neither be due to problems with Meibomian glands nor of that with nasolacrymal ducts. A clinical examination would be needed to evaluate whether a lipoma could be present. A lipoma is a benign (harmless) growth of fibrofatty tissue. In any case the swelling does not look concerning. You can get a second opinion from another doctor and hopefully he too would indicate that there is nothing to worry about. Unless you observe a rapid enlargement of the swelling there is nothing to be concerned about.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
A lipoma doesn't go up and down. It stays there those pictures are only when it swells. Most days it isn't swollen. What would cause this?
Brief Answer:
A lipoma still seems likely
Detailed Answer:
A lipoma can move up and down. It is very important to feel the consistency and mobility in order to assess how superficial or deep it is and what underlying structures it could be associated with. Going by the looks it seems to be comprised of fatty tissue. It is only after a clinical examination I would be able to indicate the possible cause. You would therefore need get it clinically examined.
Regards
A lipoma still seems likely
Detailed Answer:
A lipoma can move up and down. It is very important to feel the consistency and mobility in order to assess how superficial or deep it is and what underlying structures it could be associated with. Going by the looks it seems to be comprised of fatty tissue. It is only after a clinical examination I would be able to indicate the possible cause. You would therefore need get it clinically examined.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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