Bickerstaff's encephalitis is a rare inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system, first described by Edwin Bickerstaff in 1951. It may also affect the peripheral nervous system, and has features in common with both Miller Fisher syndrome and GuillainâBarrÃ© syndrome. 1  1 Signs and symptoms.  2 Pathophysiology.
Pathophysiology. Tears are produced in the lacrimal gland and drain through the upper and lower puncta into the canaliculi and then into the lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal duct (see Figure: Anatomy of the lacrimal system. ). Obstruction of tear drainage can lead to stasis and infection.
The nasolacrimal duct is the structure ensuring tear drainage from the surface of the eye to the nose. Tears are produced by lacrimal glands located around the eye. A continuous supply of tears is needed to provide nutrition and to wash away bacteria from the surface of the eye, two small openings or Ã¢â¬Å¾punctaÃ¢â¬Å are present in the inner corners of the eyelids which allow tears to enter the nasolacrimal duct.