What is the term for the process of tear formation and drainage?

Lacrimation refers specifically to the physiological process of producing tears and the drainage of those tears through the lacrimal system. This complex process involves the lacrimal glands, which produce the tears, and the lacrimal ducts that facilitate the drainage of tears into the nasal cavity. This process serves several important functions, including keeping the eyes moist, providing nutrients to the cornea, and removing irritants.

Tear evaporation is a related concept, but it focuses on the loss of tears through vaporization from the surface of the eye, rather than their formation and drainage. The corneal reflex is a protective response to stimuli that involves blinking and closing the eyelids but does not encompass the entire process of tear production. Visual accommodation pertains to the changes that the eye makes to focus on objects at varying distances, unrelated to tear formation and drainage.