The lacrimal fascia redefined

It has been commonly accepted that the lacrimal fascia is an intact septum, composed of connective tissue, that separates the orbital cavity into a la rge compartment, which contains the eyeball, and a small compartment, which contains the lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal duct, the septum, however, is n ot necessarily always intact. We found a circular or oval opening in the la crimal fascia in 37 of 52 specimens (71.2%) examined. The opening, which we shall refer to as the lacrimal fascial foramen, was located at variable le vels in the lacrimal fossa. The lacrimal fascial foramen was buried in fatt y tissue through which passed a branch of either the inferior palpebral art ery or the infraorbital artery and a vein of the nasolacrimal duct. The cli nical implications of the lacrimal fascial foramen in obstruction of the na solacrimal duct are discussed. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.