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 large compartment, which contains the eyeball, and a small compartment, which contains the lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal duct. the septum, however, is not necessarily always intact. We found a circular or oval opening in the lacrimal 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 levels in the lacrimal fossa. The lacrimal fascial foramen was buried in fatty tissue through which passed a branch of either the inferior palpebral artery or the infraorbital artery and a vein of the nasolacrimal duct. The clinical implications of the lacrimal fascial foramen in obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct are discussed.