If you are always tearing from the eyes the issue may be beyond that of a temporary irritation. Watery eyes may present themselves outdoors, during computer use, upon waking, or for no clear reason. What may happen is that the eyes produce too many tears or it may be that the normal amount of tears are not draining properly.
The medical term used for excessive tearing is epiphora. What causes it is a variable and there are many different reasons for a watery eye causes so it is important to know these before we decide on a course of treatment.
Why Do Tears Matter?
Tears which are on the eye surface do the job of keeping it smooth and moist, they also wash out small particles, they support clear vision and in turn protect against irritation. At each blink the tear film is spread over the cornea. Then the tears exit through small openings at the inner corner of the eyelids.
When in production of tears, quality of tears, frequency of blinking, or the drainage process issues arise, watery eyes may develop. The eye may produce more tears as a protective mechanism, or normal tears may spill out because the drainage is impaired. This is which different watery eye causes may present the same symptom.
Can Dry Eyes Cause Watery Eyes?
Yes. Dry eye is a known cause of excessive tearing. When the eye surface dries out or the tear film becomes unstable, irritation sets off a reflex which produces a burst of tears. The eyes may thus appear wet when in fact the tear film is not functioning properly. MedlinePlus reports that dry eye is one of the most common causes of excess watering.
Screen time, air conditioning, wind, smoke, contact lens wear, aging, and some medications can play a role in dry eye. If you have watery eyes that also include burning, sandiness, tiredness, or fluctuating blur, an eye care can help determine if dryness is a factor in what may be watery eye causes.
Common Watery Eye Causes
Allergies are a frequent cause, particularly when watering is accompanied by itching or sneezing. Redness or discharge may point to conjunctivitis, while blepharitis affects the eyelid margins and tear film and can result in excessive tearing.
Blocked or atrophied tear ducts may cause watery eyes which is a result of tears not draining properly. Also, eyelids that turn in or out can play a role in interrupting tear flow. Wind, smoke, bright light, chemical fumes, an in growing eyelash, or a small foreign body may bring on watering. These watery eye causes require different treatments, thus random eye drops are not a reliable solution.
| Possible Cause | Common Accompanying Clues | Why Watering Occurs |
| Dry eye | Burning, grit, fluctuating blur | Irritation triggers reflex tears |
| Allergy | Itching, redness, sneezing | Allergic inflammation stimulates tearing |
| Blepharitis | Crusting, sore eyelid edges | Tear film becomes unstable |
| Tear-duct blockage | Tears running onto the cheek | Drainage is reduced |
| Infection | Redness, discharge, discomfort | Inflammation increases tearing |
| Wind or foreign body | Sudden irritation | Protective tears increase |
What Can Accompany Excessive Tearing?
Symptoms with tear issues present valuable information. In the case of allergies for example the watery eyes also present with itchy and watery discharge. With an infection we see redness and possibly discharge, at the same time dry eye may present with a burning or a sandy sensation which may not be accompanied by a lack of tears. Should the issue be with the drainage of tears then you may see them flow down the face which doesn’t cause much irritation to the eye’s surface.
Persistent continuous excessive tearing requires evaluation in particular when it is associated with swelling, pain or discharge. Also if you have Watery eyes as a result of an injury or chemical exposure that is a reason for prompt attention. These are among the tell tale signs which an eye specialist uses to determine the watery eye causes.
| Symptom Pattern | Possible Explanation | What to Do |
| Watering with itching | Allergy | Seek review if persistent |
| Watering with burning or grit | Dry eye | Check tear-film health |
| Watering with sticky discharge | Infection or inflammation | Get medical assessment |
| Constant overflow from one eye | Drainage problem | Examine tear ducts and eyelids |
| Watering with pain or vision change | Potential urgent problem | See an eye doctor promptly |
How Are Constantly Watery Eyes Evaluated?
An ophthalmologist will ask what time the watering began, which eyes are affected, if there is also itching, pain, discharge, dryness, blurred vision, allergy, contact lens use, prior surgery, or injury. The eyelids, lashes, eye surface, tear film, and drainage openings will then be examined.
Because of overproduction and poor drainage which in turn cause excessive tearing diagnosis is key to treatment. At Vasan Eye Care,we provide a custom eye exam which is to identify what watery eye causes before we present a treatment plan.
How Are Watery Eyes Treated?
Treatment is based on the cause. In the case of dry eyes we see improvement in watery eyes when we address tear film issues. For allergy related watering we may put in place allergen control and also use appropriate medications. Blepharitis may require attention to eyelid care, also in the case of an infection we will use a treatment which is appropriate to the cause.
If there is excessive tearing from a blocked tear duct or eyelid position issue, an eye specialist may put forth treatment to improve drainage or eyelid function. Foreign bodies should be removed safely, also in the case of chemical exposure which requires immediate flushing and urgent assessment. As watery eye causes vary, antibiotic, steroid, or redness relief drops should not be used at random without medical advice.
When Should You See an Eye Doctor?
Arrange to see an ophthalmologist if you have watery eyes which are constant, present very often, disrupt your daily routine or go along with redness, swelling, discharge, or discomfort.
Go to the emergency room for severe eye pain, sudden vision change or loss, serious injury, chemical exposure, bleeding, or a foreign object that has embedded in the eye. These are the warning signs we put out there to get you in for professional care.
Persistent epiphora also presents an issue when it is mainly in one eye or there is tenderness near the nose or inner eye corner. At an experienced eye hospital facility they will evaluate the eye surface and tear drainage system when the watery eye causes is not clear.
Can Mild Watering Be Reduced at Home?
If it is mild environmental irritation which is the issue then reducing exposure to smoke, strong wind, dust and direct air conditioning may improve comfort. Also break from screen time which tends to decrease blink rate and may cause dry eye symptoms.
Repeated watery eyes do not present a reason to go at it alone with self chosen drops. Dry eye, allergy, infection, eyelid disease, and blocked drainage require different treatments. Good eye care is what you get when you track down the cause of the tearing.
Conclusion
Constant watery eyes is a symptom that does not in itself provide a diagnosis. Dry eye, allergy, eyelid inflammation, infection, environmental irritation, drainage blockage, and eyelid position issues are common watery eye causes. It is because the same symptom may present with many different conditions that it is so important to identify the cause.
If you have watery eyes, persistent, recurring eye irritation which also may include pain or changes to your vision, we at Vasan Eye Care encourage you to come in for an exam. Our eye care professionals will be able to determine what is excessive tearing and what we can do to correct it.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why are my eyes watering even though they feel dry?
Dry eye issues which irritate the surface and cause reflex tearing which in turn produces excessive tearing of the eyes despite the poor quality of the tear film.
- Can allergies cause constant watery eyes?
Yes. Allergies have symptoms of watering, redness, itchy eyes and irritation at the point of contact with allergens like dust, pollen, mold, or pets.
- Can a blocked tear duct cause watery eyes?
Yes. Poor tear drainage causes tears to pool in the eye and spill over onto the cheek.
- Are watery eyes a sign of infection?
They do which is also true when it comes to tearing which present with redness, pain, swelling, or discharge.
- When should I worry about excessive tearing?
Seek immediate care when you have tearing with severe pain, sudden vision change, injury, chemical exposure, or a foreign body.
- Can screen time cause watery eyes?
Long during computer use blinking is reduced which in turn causes dry eye irritation that may cause reflex tearing.
References Links
- National Eye Institute (NEI) – Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO)
https://www.nei.nih.gov/eye-health-information/eye-conditions-and-diseases/central-retinal-vein-occlusion-crvo - National Eye Institute (NEI) – Types of Glaucoma
https://www.nei.nih.gov/eye-health-information/eye-conditions-and-diseases/glaucoma/types-glaucoma