[Congenital fistulae of the lacrimal gland--a case report (author's transl)].

Congenital fistulae of the lacrimal gland are rarely reported. In the case described here, a 5-year-old girl presented with the orifice of the lacrimal duct situated outside the temporal canthus. Although complications (ascendant infection or skin maceration) are unlikely the treatment of choice is operative correction (excision of the tract or transplantation to the conjunctival epithelium). The fistula may be a result of invagination of the surface epithelium before the lid folds have formed or by the rupture of a cyst of the lacrimal gland.