J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1976 Sep;17(3):325-329.

Congenital Anomalies of Lacrimal Puncta

• Kim HB
• Lew HM

Abstract

The developmental anomalies of the lacrimal passage are interesting, because they are rare. The primordium of the lacrimal passage which is derived from surface ectoderm become situated in the groove between the lateral nasal and maxillary process at about 10-mm (5 weeks) stage. At 15-mm (6 weeks) stage it is free from surface ectoderm and by budding from its upper end maps out the canaliculi and puncta. Anomalies which may develop thus follow the forms of the embryological development, so that the sac and canaliculi may fail to bud off from the surface ectoderm cells, the canaliculi may run in the wrong direction, they may eventually fail to canalize, or they may be extra rods of cells budding off tbe original rod thus forming supernumeraly canaliculi and puncta. Two cases of developmental anomalies of the lacrimal passage, one has no visible puncta and the other has double puncta of both lower lids, were presented.

MeSH Terms

Ectoderm