Dealing with Watery Eyes? Here are the Reasons and Remedies

Tears help our eyes to stay comfortable and healthy. Uncontrollable tearing, weeping eyes or watery eyes can however impact our well-being and daily life in an adverse way. Are you also suffering from this problem? Do you want to know what causes your eyes to water? Do you want to know how to cure it? Read on to know more.

What are Watery Eyes? 

The overproduction of tears in the eyes and not having sufficient drainage of the eye causes the tears to overflow onto the face. This is called Epiphora or watery eyes. Tears are important for the lubrication and protection of the eyes but when there is an overproduction of tears, it can cause discomfort, blurry vision, and irritation as some of the vital watery eyes symptoms. 

It is important to know that watery eyes can occur in one or both eyes and may be temporary or chronic, depending on the underlying reason for watery eyes. It is a common condition that affects people of all ages.

Diagnosing Watery Eyes

How do the doctors diagnose weeping eyes or Epiphora? If you are suffering from this condition, your ophthalmologist is most likely to examine your eyes to check for abnormalities or blockages and understand the exact reason for watery eyes.

This is done with the help of a scope to examine the blood vessels behind your eye and check the eye pressure. The doctor may even examine your sinus cavities and nasal passage, besides looking into your medical history. You may also be questioned about experiencing watery eyes symptoms apart from constantly weeping eyes. These include:

1. Blurred vision: Excess tears can blur vision and cause difficulty seeing clearly.
2. Eye discomfort: The constant flow of tears can cause discomfort, irritation, and redness of the eyes.
3. Sensitivity to light: People with watery eyes may experience sensitivity to light or photophobia.
4. Mucus discharge: Excessive tearing can cause a buildup of mucus or discharge around the eyes.
5. Eyelid swelling: In some cases, watery eyes can cause swelling of the eyelids.
6. Eye fatigue: Constantly wiping tears away can cause eye fatigue and strain.
7. Crusty eyelids: If tears are not draining properly, they can cause crusty eyelids or sticky eyes. 

Causes of Watery Eyes

There are many watery eyes causes. Some of them are listed below: 

1. Dry eye syndrome: Ironically, dry eye syndrome can cause watery eyes as a result of the eyes overcompensating for the lack of natural tears.
2. Allergies: Allergies to things like pollen, dust, or pet dander can cause the eyes to produce excess tears as a response to the irritation.
3. Infections: Infections such as conjunctivitis (pink eye) or blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids) can cause watery eyes along with other symptoms like redness and discharge.
4. Injury to the Nose: The nose is connected to the eye through the tear duct. This causes teary eyes if one gets hurt on the nose.
5. Blocked tear ducts: When the tear ducts are blocked or narrow, tears can’t drain properly, causing the eyes to water.
6. Sinus Infection: It is another cause of extensive tearing. Sinusitis weakens the immune system which causes the body to get cold as well as cough which further causes watery eyes.
7. Eyelid problems: Issues such as entropion, ectropion, or ptosis can cause the eyes to water as a result of the eyelids not functioning properly.
8. Medications: Certain medications such as chemotherapy drugs, antihistamines, or diuretics can cause watery eyes as a side effect.
9. Neurological conditions: Conditions such as Bell’s palsy, Parkinson’s disease, or stroke can cause watery eyes due to nerve damage.

Other Causes of Watery Eyes

Besides the reason for watery eyes listed above there are certain unexpected watery eyes causes as well, which may lead to Epiphora. These are listed below –

1. Excessive screen time: When you spend more than prolonged hours in front of a screen (TV, laptop or mobile), it puts pressure on the eyes which leads to watery eyes.
2. Pink Eye: It is a condition which is typically caused by a viral infection or bacterial infection in one or both eyes. Due to this condition, the blood vessels of the eye get inflamed and give the eye a pink or red look.
3. Environmental factors: Weather conditions such as dusty weather, wind, cold, and sunshine cause tearing eyes. 
4. Contact Lenses: If you wear contact lenses, then you would be at a higher risk of having eye infections and epiphora.
5. Foreign objects: If something gets into the eye, it can cause tearing as the eye tries to flush it out.

Remedies to Treat Watery Eyes

Treatment for watery eyes is available and in most cases, depending upon the reason for watery eyes, your ophthalmologist will suggest the appropriate course of treatment as well. 

Some possible treatments you may expect to hear are given below:

1. Use eye drops prescribed by the doctor if your eyes are getting dry. They will help hydrate your eyes.
2. The doctor would give you antibiotic eye drops if you have an infection in your eye that is causing the tearing eyes. That will be decided by the doctor after seeing your eyes thoroughly and ascertaining whether you have an infection or normal dryness.
3. If the ducts are extremely blocked and are causing watery eyes and normal medicines such as eye drops are not curing it, then the doctor might suggest you get a surgical procedure to clear the blocked ducts.
4. The doctor might also suggest you get surgery to make a new tear drainage system if required.

Here are some home remedies that may help alleviate watery eyes:

5. Warm compress: Applying a warm compress to the eyes can help unclog blocked tear ducts and soothe eye irritation.
6. Tea bags: Placing a cooled, damp tea bag over closed eyes for several minutes may help relieve eye inflammation and irritation.
7. Saline solution: Rinsing the eyes with a saline solution can help flush out any foreign objects or irritants.
8. Eye drops: Over-the-counter eye drops, such as artificial tears, can help lubricate the eyes and alleviate dryness.
9. Omega-3 fatty acids: Incorporating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon or flaxseed, or taking supplements may help reduce eye inflammation and dryness.

Ways to Prevent Watery Eyes

If you are facing tearing eyes due to excessive screen time, allergies etc., then there are many ways to prevent the problem of watery eyes. Some of them are listed below:

• Many times allergies are caused by pets. If you know that pets are causing your allergies, then it is suggested that you keep the pets out of your bedroom. You can wash their beddings regularly and even give them a bath every 2 weeks and keep brushing them regularly.
• For many people, pollen is a major reactant and causes allergies. If that is the case for you, we would suggest many ways to take care of yourself and not be exposed too much to having blocked ducts and watery eyes. Some of them are listed below:

• Staying indoors when the pollen count is high.
• Using an air purifier when you feel irritation in your eye due to pollen grains.
• Wash your face and change your clothes after you come back home after spending time outside.
• Cover your face and dust your house regularly.

• Keep washing your hands and keep them clean as hands often touch the face regularly throughout the day and if not kept clean, would cause infections which would lead to watery eyes.
• Wear protective glasses when working on laptops and mobiles. This would protect your eyes from damage due to screens.
• Also, limit your time and use your devices judiciously in order to protect them from damage.
• Wear sun protective glasses when outside to protect your eyes from damage from the sun.
• Do not touch your eyes and your face too much when you have watery eyes. Use a handkerchief or tissue to wipe the excess water that is flowing on your face.

Conclusion 

In most cases of watery eyes, it isn’t serious and will resolve without much treatment. This being said, one should still always call their doctor to get their eyes checked if they are facing any difficulties or watery eyes. This would make sure that one does not have any major eye defects. 

Vision problems could be symptoms of quite serious eye problems and might even require immediate treatment. If this is not done at the right moment, then it can also cause permanent vision disorder or might damage the vision to quite an extent.