A cataract is a common eye condition involving the clouding of the lens located behind the iris. The lens focuses light onto the retina to create sharp images. When proteins in the lens break down and clump together, they create an opaque area, similar to looking through a foggy window. This condition is usually related to the natural aging process. Many people wonder if this clouding of the lens can cause excessive eye watering.
What Cataracts Are and Primary Symptoms
The pathology of a cataract involves proteins within the lens becoming progressively opaque over time. This interferes with the light transmission pathway, scattering light before it reaches the retina. As the cataract matures, the lens may turn yellow or brown, distorting vision. Age-related cataracts are the most prevalent type, typically developing slowly after age 55.
The most recognized symptoms relate to the obstruction of light. Patients frequently report blurred, clouded, or dim vision, making daily activities difficult. Increased sensitivity to light and glare is another common complaint, especially when driving at night. This glare often manifests as halos or streaks around light sources.
Colors may appear faded, dulled, or have a yellowish tint because the opaque lens filters out certain wavelengths of light. For some individuals, the earliest sign is a temporary improvement in near vision, sometimes called “second sight.” This is followed by worsening vision that requires frequent changes in eyeglass prescriptions. Difficulty seeing clearly in low-light environments is also a common symptom.
Is Tearing a Direct Cataract Symptom?
Excessive eye watering, known as epiphora, is not considered a direct symptom of a cataract. Cataracts do not typically cause inflammation, irritation, or obstruction of the tear drainage system. Since the lens is located internally, its clouding does not directly interfere with the surface mechanisms that regulate tear production and drainage.
However, a cataract can be an indirect cause of tearing due to the visual disturbances it creates. The glare and light sensitivity can trigger reflex tearing. The eye interprets the visual strain and intense light scatter as irritation, prompting the lacrimal glands to produce tears as a protective mechanism. This reaction is similar to how the eye waters when exposed to wind or dust.
Excessive watering may also be a coexisting condition that is present at the same time as the cataract. A cataract may affect one eye more than the other. If a person experiences significant tearing only in one eye, an unrelated issue like a tear duct blockage is a more likely cause. While the cloudy lens is not the direct source of the fluid, the visual disruption it causes can prompt the eye to water.
Other Reasons Your Eyes May Be Watering
Epiphora occurs when the eyes produce too many tears or when the normal tear drainage system is not functioning correctly. One common cause of watering is dry eye syndrome. When the eye’s surface becomes dry or the tear film quality is poor, the lacrimal gland releases a large volume of low-quality tears in a reflex response to lubricate the surface.
Another frequent cause is a blockage in the nasolacrimal duct, which drains tears from the eye surface into the nose. If this duct is narrowed or obstructed, tears cannot drain properly and overflow onto the cheek. Environmental factors, such as wind, smoke, or airborne allergens, are also common triggers for reflex tearing.
Inflammatory conditions affecting the eye’s surface, such as conjunctivitis or blepharitis, can cause persistent irritation and subsequent watering. Certain medications and structural issues with the eyelids, like an eyelid turning inward or outward, can also interfere with tear distribution and drainage. Identifying the source of the watering is necessary for effective treatment.
Treating Cataracts and Related Tearing
The definitive treatment for a visually significant cataract is surgical removal and replacement with an artificial intraocular lens. This procedure, often using phacoemulsification, restores clarity by eliminating the cloudy natural lens. Removing the source of glare and light scatter often resolves any indirect, irritation-induced tearing the cataract may have caused.
Immediately following the procedure, temporary watery eyes due to surgical inflammation are common. This is a temporary healing response, sometimes compounded by post-surgical dry eye, which triggers reflex tearing. Lubricating eye drops are frequently used to stabilize the tear film and manage this temporary watering.
If excessive tearing persists for weeks or months after successful cataract surgery, it suggests the watering is due to an independent issue. This requires a separate evaluation to check for underlying causes, such as an undiagnosed blocked tear duct or chronic dry eye disease. Consult an eye care professional if vision changes rapidly or if persistent, uncomfortable tearing occurs.